{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-state-government-12-402","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, State Government § 12–402","heading":"","body":"The General Assembly finds that:\n(1) the State is a unique body because:\n(i) the State is a sovereign political body that the people have established directly for the sole purpose of providing for their government; and\n(ii) the revenue of the State derives principally from taxes on the people, rather than from commercial enterprise;\n(2) State personnel who are acting within the scope of public duties and responsibilities are carrying out a governmental program under law and, thus, are discharging a part of the purpose and sovereignty of the State;\n(3) decisions of courts throughout the United States have created new grounds for personal liability of a public officer or public employee who is discharging a public duty;\n(4) those decisions have resulted in:\n(i) increased difficulties in recruiting or retaining qualified individuals for public positions that involve the exercise of discretion or dealing with the general public; and\n(ii) increased difficulties and expense in protecting these individuals through public liability insurance; and\n(5) as a matter of State policy, it is essential to protect from liability State personnel who are acting within the scope of public duties and responsibilities and without malice or gross negligence.","path":["Article - State Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gsg\u0026section=12-402","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:58Z","sha256":"83c3e81afb05f2da767f9af9aee22d6a934dac2ea61a73da79f85ef6e90f5790","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-state-government-12-401","next":"us-md/md.-code-state-government-12-403"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}