PRESS RELEASES

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              
Contact: Deriece K. Bennett
April 6, 2007                                                                          (410) 841-3185

Maryland Implements Non-Discrimination Policy in Government Procurement

House Bill 878, entitled Procurement-Commercial Non-Discrimination Policy-Modification, strongly supported by the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc., passed unanimously in the Maryland State Senate. This bill prevents the state from unintentionally participating in commercial discrimination.

The bill was first introduced during the 2006 session, requiring the staff of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations to review complaints in a confidential manner and revise policies and procedures that did not specifically prohibit marketplace discrimination. Delegate Herman L. Taylor, Jr., 2nd Vice-Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, and Senator Joan Carter Conway introduced legislation, this session, to proposes protection of individuals who report “offensive or discriminatory actions” without repercussions from the State.

Currently, the existing State Finance & Procurement Article, Title 19, Maryland Commercial Nondiscrimination Statute provides some protection for complainants against acts of retaliation. Therefore, the whistleblower element of the bill was deleted, leaving the 2007 amendment bill with the following objectives:

To clarify staff responsibilities and ensure consistency in standards and procedures relating to review and investigation of commercial discrimination complaints.

To remove inconsistencies in certain provisions that prohibits and imposes sanctions for “false and frivolous” allegations.

To clarify prohibited allegations that are “knowingly false or frivolous.”

To authorize the Maryland Commission on Human Relations to adopt regulations to implement the statue and designate the location of hearings.

To provide additional opportunities for mediation

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