In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Board” means the Executive Board of the Partnership. “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Partnership. “Fund” means the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland Fund, also known as the RAMP MD Fund. “Partnership” means the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland, also known as RAMP MD. “Region” means Cecil and Harford counties.

There is a Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland. The Partnership is a tax–exempt body politic and corporate. The Partnership is an independent unit that the Governor may not place in a principal department of State government. The purposes of the Partnership are to: foster the economic development of the region by: promoting collaboration among government, businesses, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs and innovators; and leveraging the established advanced manufacturing investments in the region, including the facilities at Aberdeen Proving Ground; and position the State as a leader in advanced manufacturing.

An Executive Board shall manage the Partnership and exercise its corporate powers. The Board consists of the members described in this subsection. The voting members of the Board are: the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; the President of Harford Community College, or the President’s designee; the President of Cecil College, or the President’s designee; the President of Towson University, or the President’s designee; one representative of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, appointed by the Executive Director of the Board; the Commanding General of Aberdeen Proving Ground, or the Commanding General’s designee; the Director of the Regional Manufacturing Institute, or the Director’s designee; the Superintendent of the Harford County Public Schools, or the Superintendent’s designee; the Superintendent of the Cecil County Public Schools, or the Superintendent’s designee; the County Executive of Cecil County, or the County Executive’s designee; the County Executive of Harford County, or the County Executive’s designee; one representative of the Susquehanna Workforce Network, appointed by the Executive Director of the network; one representative of the Army Alliance, appointed by the Executive Director of the alliance; one representative of the Northeastern Maryland Technology Council, appointed by the Executive Director of the council; the Director of the Cecil County Public Library, or the Director’s designee; the Director of the Harford County Public Library, or the Director’s designee; one representative of the Maryland Manufacturing Advisory Board, appointed by the Chair of the Board; at least six representatives of industry who reflect the influential and emerging industries using advanced manufacturing as determined by the Department, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce; and at least one representative of each organization focused on advanced manufacturing in the State that is interested in collaborating with the Partnership, appointed by the Director of the representative’s respective organization. In addition to the voting members, the Executive Director of the Partnership shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member of the Board. To the extent practicable, the members of the Board shall reasonably reflect the geographic, racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity of the State. The term of an appointed member is 4 years. At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. A member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term serves only for the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The Board shall elect a chair from among its members. A member of the Board: may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. Beginning on or before August 1, 2014, and continuing until July 1, 2015, the Board shall hold at least one regular meeting each month. After July 1, 2015, the Board shall hold meetings quarterly or more often if necessary to implement the purposes of this subtitle. The Board may establish committees to conduct its work. The membership of a committee may include individuals who are not members of the Board, including representatives of design, manufacturing, and other related businesses.

The Board shall appoint an Executive Director. The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Board. The Board shall determine the salary of the Executive Director. The Executive Director is the chief administrative officer of the Partnership. The Executive Director shall manage the administrative affairs and technical activities of the Partnership in accordance with the policies and procedures that the Board establishes.

The Department, the Cecil County Office of Economic Development, and the Harford County Office of Economic Development jointly shall provide staff, office space, and operational support for the Partnership. The Partnership may: select and retain its own legal counsel; or use the Attorney General as its legal counsel; employ, as regular employees or as independent contractors, additional staff that the Partnership considers necessary; and retain any professional consultants that the Partnership considers necessary.

The Partnership may: adopt a seal; sue or be sued; adopt bylaws and rules for the conduct of its business; enter into contracts and other legal instruments; accept grants, contributions, or other assistance of any kind from the federal government, the State, a local government, a college or university, or other public or private source; include in any contract for financial assistance with the federal government any reasonable and appropriate condition imposed under federal law that is not inconsistent with the purposes of this subtitle; make grants from the Fund to further the purposes of this subtitle; create, own, control, or be a member of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or any other entity; and do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.

To further the purposes of this subtitle, the Partnership shall: foster collaborative efforts, including public–private partnerships and memoranda of understanding, among government agencies, military installations, educational institutions, businesses, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and other entities in the region to: share resources, including existing manufacturing infrastructure; cooperate in the development of new products and processes; and bridge gaps between research, product development, and the commercial application of new technologies and manufacturing processes; facilitate the involvement of Harford Community College, Cecil College, Towson University, and other segments of the higher education community in developing and sustaining a skilled advanced manufacturing workforce through degree, certification, specialized training, and continuing education programs; assist the Cecil County and Harford County public school systems in preparing students for employment in the advanced manufacturing workforce; support manufacturing businesses in retaining and expanding production and jobs; obtain, coordinate, and disseminate marketing resources to promote and enhance advanced manufacturing opportunities and investment in the region; support priority access to workforce training funds and enterprise investment tax credits for entities that are investing resources and creating jobs in the region; pursue federal, State, local, and other public and private funding and collaboration initiatives; and perform any other function consistent with the purposes of this subtitle.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Partnership is exempt from Title 10 and Division II of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The Partnership, its Board, and its employees are subject to Title 12, Subtitle 4 and Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The officers and employees of the Partnership are not subject to the provisions of Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article that govern the State Personnel Management System. The Partnership is subject to the Public Information Act. The Board and the officers and employees of the Partnership are subject to the Public Ethics Law.

The State and Cecil and Harford counties jointly may finance the Partnership and its activities. The State may provide financial support to the Partnership to assist in carrying out the activities of the Partnership. On or before August 1 of each year, the Partnership shall submit its proposed work programs and operating budget for the following fiscal year to the Department. The submission shall include: supporting schedules to show how the budget is financed and to provide for review and recommendations; and a specific request to the Department for financial support in the following fiscal year. After review, the Department shall: consider including the request for financial support under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph in its annual budget recommendations; and forward the submission and any recommendations to the Department of Budget and Management for consideration. In accordance with subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor may include in the State budget an appropriation to partially support the Partnership. Any appropriation in a fiscal year under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be contingent on the commitment of Cecil and Harford counties to contribute funds to the Partnership during the same fiscal year. In determining the amount of an appropriation in a fiscal year, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the appropriation shall equal at least two times the total amount committed to be contributed by Cecil and Harford counties in the same fiscal year. The governing bodies of Cecil and Harford counties each year may appropriate funds to the Partnership to promote the purposes of the Partnership. An appropriation under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be a designated portion of the budget of the county Office of Economic Development. The Partnership may accept additional money from any other public or private source.

The Partnership shall cooperate with State and local units that have relevant statutory functions and duties.

There is a Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Maryland Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to implement this subtitle. The Partnership shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; money appropriated by Cecil and Harford counties to the Partnership; money made available to the Fund through federal programs; interest and investment earnings of the Fund; and any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund may be used only to: provide grants for projects that further the purposes of this subtitle; and pay the administrative and operational expenses of the Partnership. The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be paid into the Fund. Money provided to the Fund that is not awarded by the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the Fund.

The Partnership shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly: on or before December 1, 2014, an update on the activities of the Partnership in implementing the provisions of this subtitle; and on or before December 1, 2015, and each year thereafter, a complete operating and financial statement covering the Partnership’s operations and a summary of the Partnership’s activities during the preceding fiscal year.