reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-909 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9 - Program Open Space|Section 5-909 - Natural Resources Property Maintenance Fund

    (a)    In this section, “Fund” means the Natural Resources Property Maintenance Fund.    (b)    The Natural Resources Property Maintenance Fund is created within the Department to be used for the maintenance, repair, and management of property owned by the Department.    (c)    (1)    The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.        (2)    Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.        (3)    Money in the Fund may be used for administrative costs calculated in accordance with § 1–103(b)(2) of this article.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-910 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9 - Program Open Space|Section 5-910 - Acquisition of Land in Allegany County

    The State may not acquire a tract of land in Allegany County of over 100 acres for preservation of open spaces unless the County Commissioners of Allegany County approve the purchase. This requirement does not apply to open space and outdoor recreation areas which have previously been authorized for acquisition by the legislature.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-01 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-01 - Legislative Declaration and Intent; Program Established; Purpose, Administration, and Funding of Program

    (a)    The General Assembly declares that:        (1)    Sprawl development and other modifications to the landscape in Maryland continue at an alarming rate, consuming land rich in natural resource, agricultural, and forestry value, adversely affecting water quality, wetlands and habitat, threatening resource-based economies and cultural assets, and rending the fabric of rural life;        (2)    Current State, county, and local land conservation programs help to limit the effect of sprawl development but lack sufficient funding and focus to preserve key areas before escalating land values make their protection impossible or the land is lost to development; and        (3)    A grant program that leverages available funding, focuses on preservation of strategic resources, including those resources threatened by sprawl development, streamlines real property acquisition procedures to expedite land preservation, takes advantage of innovative preservation techniques such as transferable development rights and the purchase of development rights, and promotes a greater level of natural and environmental resources protection than is provided by existing efforts, will establish a rural legacy for future generations.    (b)    (1)    A Rural Legacy Program is established to enhance natural resource, agricultural, forestry, and environmental protection as provided in subsection (a) of this section while maintaining the viability of resource-based land usage and proper management of tillable and wooded areas through accepted agricultural and silvicultural practices for farm production and timber harvests.        (2)    The Program provides funds to the local governments and land trusts to purchase interests in real property from willing sellers, including easements, transferable development rights, and fee estates, focused in designated Rural Legacy Areas.        (3)    The Program shall encourage partnerships among the federal, State, and local governments, and nonprofit land trust organizations and encourage local land conservation initiatives.        (4)    The Program is administered by a Rural Legacy Board in the Department of Natural Resources, an advisory committee, and existing State staff.    (c)    The Program is funded:        (1)    Pursuant to § 13-209 of the Tax - Property Article and § 5-903(a)(2)(iii) of this title; and        (2)    By the proceeds from the sale of general obligation bonds as provided in § 5-9A-09 of this subtitle.    (d)    When negotiating and awarding grants, the Board shall encourage sponsors to utilize zero coupon bonds in the implementation of the Rural Legacy Plan in order to reduce the utilization of general obligation bonds in funding the grants.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-02 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-02 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Application” means an application to the Rural Legacy Board to designate a Rural Legacy Area.    (c)    “Board” means the Rural Legacy Board.    (d)    “BPW” means the Maryland State Board of Public Works.    (e)    “Grant agreement” means an agreement between the Board and a sponsor to implement a Rural Legacy Plan in a designated Rural Legacy Area.    (f)    “Land trust” means a qualified conservation organization that:        (1)    Is a qualified organization under § 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations adopted under § 170(h)(3); and        (2)    Has executed a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Environmental Trust.    (g)    “Priority funding area” means an area designated as a priority funding area under § 5-7B-02 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.    (h)    “Program” means the Rural Legacy Program established by this subtitle.    (i)    “Rural Legacy Area” means a region within or outside a metropolitan area designated by the Board as rich in a multitude of agricultural, forestry, natural, and cultural resources.    (j)    “Rural Legacy Plan” means a plan accepted by the Board for acquisition of easements and fee interests in Rural Legacy Areas.    (k)    “Sponsor” means a local government, group of local governments, or a land trust.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-03 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-03 - Rural Legacy Board -- Established; Purpose; Composition; Chairman; Staff

    (a)    There is a Rural Legacy Board established in the Department of Natural Resources to administer the Rural Legacy Program.    (b)    The Board consists of the following members:        (1)    The Secretary of Agriculture;        (2)    The Secretary of Natural Resources; and        (3)    The Secretary of the Department of Planning.    (c)    The Secretary of Natural Resources shall serve as Chairman of the Board.    (d)    (1)    The Department of Natural Resources shall provide staff to the Board.        (2)    The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Planning may provide additional staff.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-04 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-04 - Powers of Board

    (a)    The Board has and may exercise all powers necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.    (b)    (1)    The Board may adopt regulations to implement the purposes of this subtitle, including procedures for expediting acquisitions and purchasing and selling transferable development rights and using the proceeds related to purchasing and selling transferable development rights in accordance with this subtitle and local law.        (2)    The authority granted under this subsection may not be construed to permit adoption of a regulation applicable to land that is not subject to an easement under this subtitle.    (c)    (1)    The Board shall establish a method for appraisal of real property interests acquired under this subtitle.        (2)    Any method for appraisal established by the Board may not include a value for any resource used or reserved by the owner for private economic benefit.    (d)    The Board and sponsors may enter into agreements with other governmental agencies, including the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and the Maryland Environmental Trust, for the purpose of establishing partnerships to carry out this Program.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-06 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-06 - Rural Legacy Area; Rural Legacy Plan

    (a)    The Board may designate a Rural Legacy Area and accept a Rural Legacy Plan in accordance with the criteria set forth in this subtitle and the overall goals and objectives of the Program.    (b)    (1)    The Board may award a grant to a sponsor of a designated Rural Legacy Area in an amount determined by the Board and pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement.        (2)    A portion of the grant may be used to pay for:            (i)    Administrative costs, not to exceed 3% of the grant amount; and            (ii)    Program compliance costs for monitoring easements, as stated in the grant agreement.        (3)    The Board may establish time limitations on the use of grant funds.    (c)    (1)    The Board’s actions in subsections (a) and (b) of this section are subject to approval by the Board of Public Works.        (2)    BPW approval encumbers the grant funds.    (d)    The Board shall encourage local governments to reflect rural legacy plans in their comprehensive land use plans as updated and revised.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-07 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-07 - Grant Agreements; Duties of Sponsor; Violations; Acquisitions by Sponsor; Reports

    (a)    The Board and the sponsor of a designated Rural Legacy Area shall execute a grant agreement.    (b)    The sponsor shall comply with the terms of the grant agreement, carry out the Rural Legacy Plan, and adhere to regulations adopted by the Board.    (c)    If a sponsor violates any provision of the grant agreement or ceases to meet the requirements of this subtitle, the Board may exercise any remedy provided by the agreement or by law.    (d)    (1)    The sponsor shall submit to the Board for approval contracts for easement or fee estate acquisitions.        (2)    The Board may accept a contract subject to approval by the Board of Public Works.    (e)    Upon BPW approval, the State shall pay the sponsor for the acquisition.    (f)    The sponsor shall submit an annual report to the Rural Legacy Board.    (g)    The Board shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly before November 1 of each year on:        (1)    The financial status of the Program for the preceding fiscal year, including the amount of grants encumbered and disbursed;        (2)    The number of applications received;        (3)    The number and location of Rural Legacy Areas designated; and        (4)    The Program’s progress in contributing to land preservation efforts.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-08 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-08 - Advisory Committee

    (a)    (1)    There is an Advisory Committee to the Board in the Department of Natural Resources.        (2)    The Committee is established to review applications for Rural Legacy Areas, make recommendations for Rural Legacy Area designations to the Board, and consider such other matters as requested by the Board.    (b)    The Committee has 11 members as follows:        (1)    A trustee of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation;        (2)    A trustee of the Maryland Environmental Trust;        (3)    A representative of the agriculture industry;        (4)    A representative of a nonprofit land conservation organization;        (5)    A representative of a nonprofit environmental organization;        (6)    A representative of the forest industry;        (7)    A representative of a county government department of parks and recreation;        (8)    A representative of a business organization;        (9)    A private land owner;        (10)    A representative of the mineral resources industry; and        (11)    A representative of a municipal corporation.    (c)    (1)    Committee members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.        (2)    The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Committee on July 1, 1997.        (3)    The Governor shall solicit nominees from industries and groups which are represented on the Committee.        (4)    The members shall represent geographically and ethnically diverse areas.    (d)    (1)    The term of membership is 3 years.        (2)    A person may not serve more than two consecutive terms.    (e)    The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the Committee.    (f)    The Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Planning, shall provide staff support for the Committee.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9A-09 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9A - Rural Legacy Program|Section 5-9A-09 - Appropriations

    The Governor shall include in the annual capital budget an amount not less than $5 million for this Program.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9B-01 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9B - Local Land Preservation Programs|Section 5-9B-01 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Application” means an application by a local government to the Board of Public Works to fund the purchase of an interest in real property under a local land preservation program.    (c)    “Program” means a local land preservation program established in accordance with this subtitle.    (d)    “Sponsor” means a local government.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9B-03 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9B - Local Land Preservation Programs|Section 5-9B-03 - Applications; Property Rights

    (a)    The sponsor shall submit applications to appropriate State and local units and consider any recommendations made regarding the applications.    (b)    An easement acquired under this subtitle is perpetual and may not be extinguished or released.    (c)    (1)    In a county with a locally adopted transferable development rights program and with the approval of the county, funds under a program may be used to purchase transferable development rights in the county in accordance with the locally adopted transferable development rights program.        (2)    The right to resell the development right, if any, shall be stated in the instrument of purchase.        (3)    Transferable development rights may be resold only to owners or option purchasers of real property located in priority funding areas, including municipal corporations, within the county in which the rights were purchased.    (d)    All easement acquisitions must be recorded among the land records where the real property is located.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9B-04 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9B - Local Land Preservation Programs|Section 5-9B-04 - Development of Plan

    (a)    A sponsor that applies for funding to implement a local land preservation program under this subtitle shall:        (1)    Develop a plan to guide the conservation of property in the jurisdiction under the program;        (2)    Ensure that each application is consistent with the approved local land preservation and recreation plan for the county, to guide the acquisition of property interests listed in the application; and        (3)    Submit the application, description of properties and easements to be acquired, together with a description of consistency with the plan and any conditions placed on the conveyance of the property, to the Department of Natural Resources for review.    (b)    A sponsor may satisfy the requirements of subsection (a)(1) of this section with materials developed under or in conjunction with:        (1)    The comprehensive plan for the jurisdiction reviewed and revised under § 1–416 or § 3–303 of the Land Use Article;        (2)    The local land preservation and recreation plan under § 5–905 of this title;        (3)    An approved local agricultural land preservation program under § 2–512 of the Agriculture Article, for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program;        (4)    An approved annual program submitted by the sponsor under Program Open Space;        (5)    An approved rural legacy area and grant agreement under the Rural Legacy Program under Subtitle 9A of this title;        (6)    The GreenPrint Program under Subtitle 15A of this title; or        (7)    Another acquisition plan prepared by, jointly funded, or accepted by the Department for the protection of local or State land preservation or recreational goals.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9B-05 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9B - Local Land Preservation Programs|Section 5-9B-05 - Funding Requests

    (a)    A sponsor may submit funding requests for acquisition of property under its local land preservation program to the Department of Natural Resources for evaluation and submission to the Board of Public Works under this section.    (b)    The Department shall:        (1)    Review local programs and applications for funding submitted by sponsors for consistency with the local plans under § 5–9B–04(a) of this subtitle;        (2)    Submit applications reviewed under item (1) of this subsection to the Board of Public Works for funding, along with the Department’s recommendation on the application; and        (3)    Coordinate applications received with available remaining funding.    (c)    (1)    Applications for funding under this section in a fiscal year shall be received at a date determined by the Department and reviewed using criteria established by the Department under § 5–9B–06(a)(2) of this subtitle.        (2)    Applications recommended for approval by the Department shall be forwarded to the Board of Public Works with a favorable recommendation in accordance with the criteria.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9B-06 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9B - Local Land Preservation Programs|Section 5-9B-06 - Duties of Department of Natural Resources

    (a)    The Department of Natural Resources shall:        (1)    Provide technical support and assistance to local governments in the development of local land preservation programs, including mapping, and identification of smaller parcels that may be aggregated for protection under local land preservation programs;        (2)    Adopt criteria for distributing available State funding to local land preservation programs in accordance with the purposes of this subtitle;        (3)    Assist sponsors to coordinate land preservation efforts in their regions under local land preservation and recreation plans with related efforts under Program Open Space, the Rural Legacy Program, the Heritage Area Program, the Agricultural Land Preservation Program, and the GreenPrint Program; and        (4)    Consult with other federal, State, and local units and private land trusts in order to facilitate conservation efforts under this subtitle.    (b)    The purposes of the criteria adopted under subsection (a) of this section include:        (1)    Preservation of open space;        (2)    Containment of sprawl development; and        (3)    Improvement of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other watersheds of the State.    (c)    The criteria shall be based on:        (1)    The current population of participating jurisdictions and adjacent areas;        (2)    Projected population growth in those areas;        (3)    The sensitivity of surface and ground waters in and derived from those areas to degradation from point and nonpoint source pollution; and        (4)    Giving higher priority to applications for the protection of lands and land uses that provide the highest level of protection for water quality.    (d)    The criteria shall be used at the start of each fiscal year to allocate funding available to local programs in participating local governments in order to provide for appropriate and timely deliberation and review of eligible proposals for acquisition by each participating local government.    (e)    The Department may initially establish allocations of available funding based on the funding that is made available to each participating local government under Program Open Space in the same proportion that the local government receives Program Open Space funding in relation to the Program Open Space allocations of all participating local governments.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9C-01 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9C - Community Parks and Playgrounds Program|Section 5-9C-01 - "Program" Defined

    In this subtitle, “Program” means the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9C-02 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9C - Community Parks and Playgrounds Program|Section 5-9C-02 - Community Parks and Playgrounds Program

    (a)    The General Assembly declares that:        (1)    It is State public policy to both restore existing park and green space systems and create new park and green space systems in the municipal corporations of the State and Baltimore City; and        (2)    Funding sources in the form of flexible grants shall be made available to the governing bodies of municipal corporations and Baltimore City to:            (i)    Rehabilitate, expand, improve, or maintain existing parks;            (ii)    Purchase land to create new parks;            (iii)    Develop new parks;            (iv)    Purchase and install playground equipment in urban neighborhoods and rural areas throughout the State; or            (v)    Be used for environmentally oriented parks and recreation projects.    (b)    (1)    There is a Community Parks and Playgrounds Program to provide flexible grants to the governing bodies of municipal corporations and Baltimore City for the purposes set forth in subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    The Department’s Program Open Space shall administer the Program.    (c)    The Secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.
MD. Natural Resources Code Ann. §  5-9C-03 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Natural Resources|Title 5 - Forests and Parks|Subtitle 9C - Community Parks and Playgrounds Program|Section 5-9C-03 - Funding

    The Program may be funded:        (1)    From the General Fund of the State; and        (2)    By the proceeds from the sale of State general obligation bonds.