1. (a) In this division the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “County” means a county of the State or Baltimore City.
3. (c) “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
4. (d) “Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.
5. (e) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

6. (f)

   1. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, “state” means:

      1. (i) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or
      2. (ii) the District of Columbia.
   2. (2) When capitalized, “State” means Maryland.

7. (g)

   1. (1) “Tier I county” means a county with:

      1. (i) an average rate of unemployment for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available that exceeds 150% of the average rate of unemployment for the State during that period;
      2. (ii) an average rate of unemployment for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available that exceeds the average rate of unemployment for the State by at least 2 percentage points; or
      3. (iii) a median household income for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available that is equal to or less than 75% of the median household income for the State during that period.

   2. (2) “Tier I county” includes a county that:

      1. (i) no longer meets any of the criteria stated in paragraph (1) of this subsection; but
      2. (ii) has met at least one of the criteria at some time during the preceding 24-month period.

Added by Acts 2008, c. 306, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2008. Amended by Acts 2008, c. 498, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2011, c. 303, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2012, c. 654, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 715, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2015, c. 141, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 320, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 338, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2017, c. 149, § 1, eff. June 1, 2017; Acts 2018, c. 11, § 1, eff. April 5, 2018; Acts 2018, c. 584, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2019, c. 82, § 1, eff. July 1, 2019; Acts 2023, c. 522, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023; Acts 2023, c. 523, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2023; Acts 2024, c. 963, § 2, eff. July 1, 2024.