Maryland Code, STATE PERSONNEL AND PENSIONS 31-306

state: means :

(1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

(2) the District of Columbia. See

A participating governmental unit shall pay all administrative costs involved in the withdrawal or reentry if the participating governmental unit:

(1) withdraws all or some of its employees from a State system; or

(2) elects to participate in a State system for employees who were previously withdrawn.