ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 397

THE CRITICAL AREA, BUYER MAY CONTACT THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
AND ZONING, WHICH MAINTAINS MAPS SHOWING THE EXTENT OF THE CRITICAL
AREA IN THE JURISDICTION. ALLEGANY, CARROLL, FREDERICK, GARRETT, HOWARD,
MONTGOMERY, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES DO NOT INCLUDE LAND LOCATED IN
THE CRITICAL AREA.",

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2004.

Approved May 11, 2004.

CHAPTER 397
(House Bill 1044)

AN ACT concerning

Procurement - State Contractor Employees - Whistleblower Protection

FOR the purpose of requiring certain employers that enter certain State procurement
contracts to provide written notice of certain protections and remedies to
employees; prohibiting an employer from taking or refusing to take certain
personnel actions against employees who disclose unlawful behavior, refuse to
participate in unlawful behavior, or seek certain remedies following certain
disclosures; authorizing certain employees to institute a civil action in the
county where a certain violation occurred, where the employee resides, or where
the employer maintains its principal office in the State; requiring certain
employees to file a civil action under this Act within a certain period after the
retaliatory personnel action allegedly occurred or within a certain period after
the employee first became aware of the alleged retaliatory personnel action;
establishing the remedies for certain employees that a court may grant;
providing a defense that the personnel action was based on grounds other than
those protected under this Act; defining certain terms; providing for the
application of this Act; and generally relating to whistleblower protection for
State contractor employees.

BY adding to

Article - State Finance and Procurement

Section 11-301 through 11-306, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle

3. State Contractor Employees' Whistleblower Protection"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2001 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

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