reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-308 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-308 - Power to Enact Public Local Laws

    Each code county shall proceed in accordance with this subtitle to exercise the powers to enact public local laws.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-309 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-309 - Legislative Days

    (a)    By public local law, the county commissioners of a code county shall establish a specified number of days, not exceeding 45 days, in each year on which the county commissioners may meet to enact public local laws.    (b)    (1)    Legislative days:            (i)    need not be consecutive; and            (ii)    may be designated by public local law.        (2)    If a legislative day is not specified or not determinable by public local law, the county commissioners shall publish notice of the legislative day in a newspaper of general circulation in the code county between 3 and 14 days before the legislative day.    (c)    (1)    The first legislative session of a code county shall:            (i)    begin on the first business day 60 days after the effective date of code home rule; and            (ii)    be 15 days long.        (2)    The 15 days of the first legislative session do not count as part of the annual 45 legislative days.    (d)    Each legislative session shall be open to the public.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-310 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-310 - Requirements for Public Local Laws

    (a)    Each public local law of a code county shall be passed by original bill.    (b)    The style of the enacting clause for each bill shall be “Be it enacted by …”.    (c)    Each public local law enacted shall embrace only one subject, which shall be described in the title of the bill.    (d)    A public local law may not be repealed or amended by reference to its title only.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-312 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-312 - Effective Dates of Public Local Laws

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a public local law enacted by the county commissioners of a code county takes effect:        (1)    45 days after it is enacted; or        (2)    at a later date specified in the public local law.    (b)    (1)    A public local law takes effect on the date of its passage if it is passed as an emergency bill.        (2)    An emergency bill may not:            (i)    abolish or create an office;            (ii)    change a salary, term, or duty of an officer;            (iii)    grant a franchise or special privilege; or            (iv)    create a vested right or interest.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-313 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-313 - Referendum on Public Local Law

    (a)    (1)    The voters of a code county may submit to referendum, by petition, a public local law or a part of a public local law enacted under this subtitle.        (2)    The referendum shall be:            (i)    at the next regular congressional election unless the county commissioners, by resolution, schedule a special election;            (ii)    in accordance with the requirements of Title 7 of the Election Law Article as to time, notice, and form; and            (iii)    for adoption or rejection by a majority of those voting on the question.    (b)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a referendum petition shall:            (i)    be filed with the county board of elections within 40 days after a public local law is enacted; and            (ii)    contain the signatures of at least 10% of the voters of the code county.        (2)    If more than one–half but less than the full number of signatures required to complete a referendum petition against a public local law are filed within 40 days after the public local law is enacted, the time for the public local law to take effect and the time for filing the remainder of signatures to complete the referendum petition is extended for an additional 40 days.    (c)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a referendum petition may consist of several papers.        (2)    Each paper shall:            (i)    contain the full text of the public local law or part of the public local law petitioned to referendum; and            (ii)    have attached to it an affidavit of the individual who procured the signatures on the petition that certifies that to the best of the individual’s personal knowledge, information, and belief:                1.    each signature on the petition is genuine; and                2.    the signers are voters in the code county.    (d)    The county board of elections shall verify the voter registration of each signer.    (e)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if a legally sufficient referendum petition on a public local law is filed with the county board of elections, the public local law does not take effect until 30 days after its approval by a majority of the voters voting on the question.        (2)    An emergency law petitioned to referendum:            (i)    remains in effect from its effective date notwithstanding the filing of the referendum petition; but            (ii)    is repealed 30 days after its rejection by a majority of the voters voting on the question.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-314 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-314 - Annual Duties Regarding Local Laws -- Code Counties

    (a)    At the end of each calendar or fiscal year, each code county shall compile a complete set of all public local laws enacted by the code county during that year.    (b)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, copies of the compilation shall be:            (i)    kept on permanent record at the office of the county commissioners;            (ii)    made available for inspection during regular business hours at the office; and            (iii)    provided in printed form without charge to the State Archives and the Maryland Thurgood Marshall State Law Library.        (2)    Annually, each code county shall provide each member of the General Assembly representing any part of the county with:            (i)    notice that a digital copy of the compilation is available on the Internet; or            (ii)    a printed copy of the compilation without charge.        (3)    The code county may make other copies of the compilation available at a reasonable cost to any person.    (c)    On or before March 1 of each year, the code county shall provide without charge four printed copies of the compilation to the Department of Legislative Services.    (d)    Each code county shall provide to the Department of Legislative Services a statement that includes information on:        (1)    the results of any referendum on a public local law held during the previous calendar or fiscal year; and        (2)    any actual or potential pending referendum that has not been held by the end of the year.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-315 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 3 - Code Counties|Section 9-315 - Annual Duties Regarding Local Laws -- Department of Legislative Services

    (a)    (1)    At the end of each calendar year, the Department of Legislative Services shall ask each code county whether the county has enacted any part of its public local laws during that calendar year or its latest fiscal year.        (2)    The code county promptly shall:            (i)    answer the inquiry; and            (ii)    verify that copies of the requested enactments of public local laws already have been sent to the Department of Legislative Services.    (b)    (1)    The Department of Legislative Services promptly shall certify to the Comptroller if a code county does not comply with subsection (a) of this section or § 9–314(c) or (d) of this subtitle.        (2)    If the Department of Legislative Services certifies noncompliance, the Comptroller may discontinue all funds, grants, or State aid that the code county is entitled to under State law relating to:            (i)    the income tax;            (ii)    the tax on racing;            (iii)    the recordation tax;            (iv)    the admissions and amusement tax; and            (v)    license taxes or fees.    (c)    The Department of Legislative Services shall:        (1)    arrange in a logical and convenient order the titles or the full text of the laws of each code county that amends its code of public local laws; and        (2)    publish on the General Assembly website each title, identified as a title of the laws of a code county that amends its code of public local laws, or the full text of the laws of each code county that amends its code of public local laws.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 4 - Code Counties and Commission Counties|Section 9-401 - County Commissioners

    (a)    This section applies only to code counties and commission counties.    (b)    The number of county commissioners in each county shall be set by the public local laws of the county.    (c)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the county commissioners shall:            (i)    meet within 60 days after their election; and            (ii)    qualify by taking the constitutional oath.        (2)    The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County shall take office on the first Monday in December after their election.    (d)    (1)    The county commissioners shall meet at least once each quarter.        (2)    The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County shall meet at least 48 times a year.        (3)    The County Commissioners of Washington County shall hold at least 10 of their general meetings each year in the evening.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 4 - Code Counties and Commission Counties|Section 9-402 - Vacancy in Office of County Commissioner

    (a)    This section applies only to:        (1)    commission counties; and        (2)    except as otherwise provided by local law, code counties.    (b)    (1)    Subject to subsection (c) of this section, if a vacancy occurs in an office of county commissioner, the Governor shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.        (2)    (i)    If a vacancy occurs during a session of the Senate of Maryland, the Governor shall appoint the individual with the advice and consent of the Senate.            (ii)    In Allegany County, if there is no resident senator from Allegany County in the Senate of Maryland at the time of the appointment, the Governor shall appoint the individual with the advice and consent of the House of Delegates.            (iii)    If a vacancy occurs during a recess of the Senate of Maryland, the Governor shall:                1.    appoint an individual during the recess; and                2.    submit to the Senate the nomination of the individual appointed, or another individual, not later than 30 days after the next meeting of the General Assembly begins.    (c)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, the central committee of the political party that is affiliated with the vacating county commissioner shall submit in writing to the Governor the name of the individual that the political party nominates to fill the vacancy.        (2)    The individual nominated by the central committee shall be of the same political party as the vacating county commissioner.        (3)    The Governor shall nominate or appoint the individual whose name is submitted under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 15 days after the submission.        (4)    If there is no central committee in the county in which the vacancy occurs, the Governor shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy who has all the qualifications required for the office of county commissioner in the particular county.        (5)    In Garrett County, the nominee or appointee shall be a resident of the same commissioner district in which the former county commissioner resided.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 4 - Code Counties and Commission Counties|Section 9-403 - County Commissioners as Corporation

    (a)    This section applies only to code counties and commission counties.    (b)    The county commissioners of each county are a corporation.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-404 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 4 - Code Counties and Commission Counties|Section 9-404 - Legal Claims -- Generally

    (a)    This section applies only to code counties and commission counties.    (b)    The county commissioners may sue and be sued.    (c)    The county commissioners may not pay a claim against the county unless:        (1)    the claim is payable by the county; and        (2)    the claimant produces legal proof of the claim.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 4 - Code Counties and Commission Counties|Section 9-405 - Ethics

    (a)    This section applies only to code counties and commission counties.    (b)    This section does not apply to a county that has adopted local ethics laws under §§ 5–808 and 5–809 of the General Provisions Article if the local ethics laws have been approved by the State Ethics Commission.    (c)    During a county commissioner’s term of office, the county commissioner may not:        (1)    possess or acquire any share or interest in, or have or participate in, either directly or indirectly, any benefit, profit, or compensation of any agreement or contract entered into with any party by the county commissioners as county commissioners; or        (2)    accept, possess, or acquire any claim, or any share or interest in any claim, on or against the county of which the individual is a commissioner if the claim has been or will be passed on and approved by the county commissioners.    (d)    (1)    If a county commissioner violates the provisions of this section, the county commissioner is subject to prosecution.        (2)    A county commissioner who is convicted under this section shall forfeit:            (i)    the office; and            (ii)    the county commissioner’s share or interest in the agreement, contract, or claim in which the county commissioner was involved.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-406 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 4 - Code Counties and Commission Counties|Section 9-406 - Payment of Premium for Bonds of County Officials

    (a)    This section applies only to code counties and commission counties.    (b)    This section does not apply to a clerk of court or a sheriff.    (c)    If a county treasurer, tax collector, county commissioner, or any county official is required by law to give a bond:        (1)    the county official shall give a bond executed by a surety company that is authorized to do business in the State; and        (2)    the bond shall be approved by the county.    (d)    (1)    The county may pay the premium for a bond given under subsection (c) of this section, not to exceed 0.5% per year of the penalty of an executed and approved bond.        (2)    (i)    Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, when a bond is executed and approved, the county commissioners may direct the payment of the premium of the bond from the general fund of the county in the same manner as required to pay general county debts.            (ii)    The payment of the premium on the bond given by a register of wills or State’s Attorney shall be charged as an expense of that officer.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-501 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-501 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Official action” means a phase of the process in which a public agency in St. Mary’s County makes a decision or recommendation, including receipt of information and deliberation.    (c)    (1)    “Public agency” means:            (i)    a governmental unit of St. Mary’s County, including an advisory or quasi–judicial agency, that is:                1.    supported in any part by public money; or                2.    authorized to spend public money;            (ii)    the St. Mary’s County Board of Education;            (iii)    the St. Mary’s County Board of Library Trustees;            (iv)    the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission; and            (v)    the St. Mary’s County Housing Authority.        (2)    “Public agency” includes a subcommittee or other subordinate unit of a governmental unit listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection.        (3)    “Public agency” does not include:            (i)    a grand jury;            (ii)    a petit jury;            (iii)    a law enforcement agency; or            (iv)    the judicial branch.    (d)    “Public agency meeting” means the convening of a quorum of the constituent membership of a public agency to deliberate or act on a matter under the supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power of the public agency.    (e)    “Quorum”, unless otherwise defined by applicable law, means a simple majority of the constituent membership of a public agency.    (f)    “Staff meeting” means a meeting of three or more staff members of one or more public agencies.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-502 - Public Policy

    It is the policy of St. Mary’s County that:        (1)    public officials shall engage in official action in an open and public manner so that voters are advised of the performance of public officials and of decisions made in forming public policy;        (2)    public agencies exist to aid in conducting the people’s business;        (3)    the people of the county, in delegating authority, do not yield their sovereignty or give public agencies the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know; and        (4)    the right of the people to remain informed is protected so that they may retain control over the instruments they create.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-503 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-503 - Conflict With Another Statute, Ordinance, Regulation, or Rule

    This subtitle prevails if it conflicts with another statute, ordinance, regulation, or rule, unless the other statute, ordinance, regulation, or rule is more stringent.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-504 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-504 - Open Meetings of Public Agency

    (a)    Except as provided in § 9–512 of this subtitle, a public agency meeting at which official action is taken shall be open to the public.    (b)    A final decision whether to purchase or dispose of real property shall be at a public agency meeting open to the public.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-505 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-505 - Notice

    (a)    This section does not apply to a staff meeting.    (b)    A public agency shall provide written public notice of the schedule of its regular public agency meetings, including their dates, times, and places:        (1)    at the beginning of each calendar or fiscal year; or        (2)    at the time the public agency begins to function.    (c)    (1)    Except as provided in § 9–506 or § 9–507 of this subtitle, a public agency shall provide supplemental written public notice of any special or rescheduled public agency meeting at least 48 hours before the meeting.        (2)    The notice shall include the agenda, date, time, and place of the public agency meeting.    (d)    A public agency shall provide written public notice by:        (1)    posting a copy of the notice prominently at the principal office of the public agency or at the building in which the public agency meeting is to be held; and        (2)    sending a copy of the notice to any person who requests to be notified of the public agency meetings.    (e)    A public agency shall give notice of intent to purchase or dispose of real property at least 15 days before a voting session on the action.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-506 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-506 - Reconvened Public Agency Meetings

    A public agency meeting may be adjourned and reconvened at another time without additional public notice if:        (1)    notice of the time and place of the reconvened meeting is provided before adjournment;        (2)    the agenda for the reconvened meeting is published in advance; and        (3)    the agenda for the original meeting is available to observers at the beginning of the original meeting.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-507 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-507 - Emergency Public Agency Meetings

    (a)    This section does not apply to a staff meeting.    (b)    A public agency may schedule an emergency public agency meeting to discuss unforeseen emergency conditions.    (c)    A public agency shall make a reasonable effort to provide notice of the date, time, and place of an emergency public agency meeting by telephone to the news media immediately after participants have been notified.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  9-508 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division III - Counties|Title 9 - General and Administrative Provisions|Subtitle 5 - St. Mary's County Open Meetings Act|Section 9-508 - Meeting Minutes

    (a)    This section does not apply to:        (1)    a staff meeting; or        (2)    a working session if a final decision is not made.    (b)    A public agency shall take and, in a timely manner, record minutes of each public agency meeting open to the public.    (c)    Minutes of a public agency meeting are a public record open for inspection and copying by any person.