{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-courts-and-judicial-proceedings-5-301","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5–301","heading":"","body":"(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(b) “Actual malice” means ill will or improper motivation.\n(c) (1) “Employee” means any person who was employed by a local government at the time of the act or omission giving rise to potential liability against that person.\n(2) “Employee” includes:\n(i) Any employee, either within or without a classified service or merit system;\n(ii) An appointed or elected official; or\n(iii) A volunteer who, at the request of the local government, and under its control and direction, was providing services or performing duties.\n(d) “Local government” means:\n(1) A charter county as defined in § 1–101 of the Local Government Article;\n(2) A code county as defined in § 1–101 of the Local Government Article;\n(3) A board of county commissioners;\n(4) Baltimore City;\n(5) A municipality as defined in § 1–101 of the Local Government Article;\n(6) The Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission;\n(7) The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission;\n(8) The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority;\n(9) A community college or board of trustees for a community college established or operating under Title 16 of the Education Article, not including Baltimore City Community College;\n(10) A county public library or board of trustees of a county public library established or operating under Title 23, Subtitle 4 of the Education Article;\n(11) The Enoch Pratt Free Library or Board of Trustees of the Enoch Pratt Free Library;\n(12) The Washington County Free Library or the Board of Trustees of the Washington County Free Library;\n(13) A special taxing district;\n(14) A nonprofit community service corporation incorporated under State law that is authorized to collect charges or assessments;\n(15) Housing authorities created under Division II of the Housing and Community Development Article;\n(16) A sanitary district, sanitary commission, metropolitan commission, or other sewer or water authority established or operating under public local law or public general law;\n(17) A regional development council;\n(18) The Howard County Economic Development Authority;\n(19) The Howard County Mental Health Authority;\n(20) A commercial district management authority established by a county or municipal corporation if provided under local law;\n(21) The Baltimore City Police Department;\n(22) A regional library resource center or a cooperative library corporation established under Title 23, Subtitle 2 of the Education Article;\n(23) Lexington Market, Inc., in Baltimore City;\n(24) The Baltimore Public Markets Corporation, in Baltimore City;\n(25) A nonprofit corporation serving as the local public transportation authority for Carroll County pursuant to a contract or memorandum of understanding with Carroll County;\n(26) The nonprofit corporation serving as the animal control and licensing authority for Carroll County pursuant to a contract or memorandum of understanding with Carroll County (the Humane Society of Carroll County, Inc.);\n(27) Garrett County Municipalities, Inc., in Garrett County;\n(28) The nonprofit corporation serving as the local public transportation authority for Garrett County pursuant to a contract or memorandum of understanding with Garrett County (Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc.); and\n(29) The nonprofit corporation serving as the industrial development authority of Carroll County established under Title 12, Subtitle 1 of the Economic Development Article.\n(e) (1) “Regional development council” means a regional or municipal council established under Title 13 of the Economic Development Article.\n(2) “Regional development council” includes:\n(i) The Baltimore Metropolitan Council;\n(ii) The Mid–Shore Regional Council;\n(iii) The Upper Shore Regional Council;\n(iv) The Tri–County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland;\n(v) The Tri–County Council for Southern Maryland; and\n(vi) The Tri–County Council for Western Maryland.","path":["Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj\u0026section=5-301","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:03Z","sha256":"0f7ae3ca35b27ebc4c090899fa5a44b8952d3a1e4c5e9e1bec7ea1fc77dce655","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-courts-and-judicial-proceedings-5-205","next":"us-md/md.-code-courts-and-judicial-proceedings-5-302"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}