ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 179

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article - State Finance and Procurement
Section 14-301(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2001 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - State Finance and Procurement
Section 14-301(i)
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:

Article - State Finance and Procurement

14-301.

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(i) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, "socially and
economically disadvantaged individual" means a citizen or lawfully admitted
permanent resident of the United States who is:

(i) in any of the following minority groups:

1.       African American - an individual having origins in any of
the black racial groups of Africa;

2.       American Indian/Native American - an individual having
origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who is a documented
member of a North American tribe, band, or otherwise has a special relationship with
the United States or a state through treaty, agreement, or some other form of
recognition. This includes an individual who claims to be an American Indian/Native
American and who is regarded as such by the American Indian/Native American
community of which the individual claims to be a part, but does not include an
individual of Eskimo or Aleutian origin;

3.       Asian - an individual having origins in the Far East,
Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, and who is regarded as such by the
community of which the person claims to be a part;

4.       Hispanic - an individual of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban,
Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race, and
who is regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part;

5.       physically or mentally disabled - an individual who has an
impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, who is regarded
generally by the community as having such a disability, and whose disability has
substantially limited his or her ability to engage in competitive business; or

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