{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-public-utilities-20-205","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Public Utilities § 20–205","heading":"","body":"(a) To participate in the contract–specific goals and preferences authorized under this subtitle, a business must:\n(1) be certified by a certification agency in accordance with Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations adopted under that subtitle;\n(2) (i) be certified by any certification agency; and\n(ii) submit all additional documentation necessary for the Office to determine that the business meets the requirements of Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations adopted under that subtitle; or\n(3) be certified under a certification program that the Commission determines substantially duplicates the requirements for a State certification agency under Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations adopted under that subtitle.\n(b) To substantially duplicate the requirements for a State certification agency under Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations adopted under that subtitle, a certification program shall, at a minimum, have certification requirements that are at least as narrowly tailored as the State’s requirements in Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations adopted under that subtitle with respect to:\n(1) business ownership and control;\n(2) business size standards;\n(3) business owner personal net worth; and\n(4) business owner social and economic disadvantage.\n(c) If the Office determines that a business seeking to participate in the minority business enterprise utilization program established under § 20–204 of this subtitle has a certification that does not substantially duplicate the requirements in Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the regulations adopted under that subtitle, the Office may:\n(1) request and evaluate documentation and evidence necessary to determine whether the business may be authorized to participate in programs under this subtitle; and\n(2) following the evaluation under item (1) of this subsection, authorize a business to participate in programs under this subtitle.","path":["Article - Public Utilities"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gpu\u0026section=20-205","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:28Z","sha256":"f11890142749984198674aeece1229782edd92af9e58e24692deb666a1e0c056","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-public-utilities-20-204","next":"us-md/md.-code-public-utilities-20-206"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}