reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Watershed Association|Section 25-202 - Petition

    (a)    The petition shall:        (1)    clearly describe the area’s location, boundaries, and problems to be addressed by the establishment of a watershed association;        (2)    describe the public benefit or the public health, safety, or welfare that would be promoted by establishing a watershed project for watershed protection, flood prevention, recreation, soil conservation, drainage, or the conservation, development, storage, use, and disposal of water for any beneficial purpose; and        (3)    request the establishment of a watershed association for the purposes listed in item (2) of this subsection.    (b)    A petition is valid only if signed by at least one–third of the landowners or the owners of at least one–third of the land in a watershed or subwatershed area.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Watershed Association|Section 25-203 - Report Required

    (a)    (1)    The petition shall be accompanied by a report from the local soil conservation districts serving the area to be affected by the proposed watershed association.        (2)    The report shall state:            (i)    the size and location of the area to be affected by the proposed watershed association;            (ii)    the nature of the problem to be addressed;            (iii)    the type of treatment believed to be needed and the benefits anticipated;            (iv)    whether the proposed watershed association is feasible and is generally supported by the landowners in the area;            (v)    whether the proposed watershed association will benefit the public and promote the public health, safety, and welfare;            (vi)    the name of the proposed watershed association, in the form of the “________ Public Watershed Association”; and            (vii)    the number of directors, equaling not less than three, to serve as the board of directors.    (b)    The local soil conservation districts shall file with the report maps that show:        (1)    a general delineation of the area to be affected by the proposed watershed association; and        (2)    the area’s location in each county in which the proposed watershed association lies.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Watershed Association|Section 25-204 - Examinations of Petition and Report; Hearing; Notice

    (a)    (1)    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall examine the petition and report at the first meeting after receiving the petition and report.        (2)    If the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City find the petition and report are not in proper form or not in compliance with the law, the petition and report shall be returned to the petitioners to be corrected and resubmitted.        (3)    If the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City find the petition and report are in proper form and in compliance with the law, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall set a date for a public hearing on the petition and report.    (b)    (1)    At least 10 days before the hearing, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall:            (i)    publish notice of the time and place of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the area in which the watershed association would be located; and            (ii)    send notice of the hearing and any later hearing to the:                1.    Department of Agriculture;                2.    State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture;                3.    Department of the Environment; and                4.    Water Management Administration in the Department of the Environment.        (2)    The notice of the hearing shall state that a copy of the report is available for inspection in the office of the designated officer.    (c)    A copy of the report shall be available for inspection in the office of the designated officer.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Watershed Association|Section 25-205 - Multiple Counties -- Jurisdiction and Venue

    If the land described in the petition is located in two or more counties, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City of an affected county may exercise the jurisdiction conferred in this title, but the venue shall lie in the county in which the petition is filed.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Watershed Association|Section 25-206 - Hearing and Action on Petition and Report

    (a)    At the hearing on the petition and report, the petitioners, any affected local soil conservation district, and any other person may appear in person or by counsel and object to any part of the report.    (b)    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City may:        (1)    disapprove the petition and report and return them to the petitioners for amendment in view of the objections presented; or        (2)    approve the petition and report as submitted or amended.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-301 - Establishment of Watershed Association

    (a)    On approval of the petition and report filed under Subtitle 2 of this title, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall:        (1)    establish a watershed association that is composed of the landowners; and        (2)    name the organization the “_______ Public Watershed Association”.    (b)    A watershed association created under this title is a political subdivision of the State and a body politic and corporate.    (c)    A watershed association may:        (1)    acquire, hold, and convey property;        (2)    sue and be sued;        (3)    adopt a seal; and        (4)    exercise corporate powers.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-302 - Board of Directors -- Initial Election

    (a)    Within 30 days after the approval of the petition and report, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall call a meeting of the landowners to:        (1)    elect a board of directors; and        (2)    determine the compensation for the board of directors.    (b)    (1)    At least 10 days before the meeting, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the area or vicinity of the area affected by the watershed association.        (2)    The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.    (c)    Each landowner is entitled to one vote in the election of the board of directors.    (d)    The board of directors elected under subsection (a) of this section shall determine by a random drawing the directors who:        (1)    serve until the date of the first regular annual meeting;        (2)    serve until the date of the first regular annual meeting and for 1 year thereafter; or        (3)    serve until the date of the first regular annual meeting and for 2 years thereafter.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-303 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-303 - Board of Directors -- Annual Election or Appointment

    (a)    Each year, the landowners shall meet to elect a successor to:        (1)    any director whose term expired on or before the date of the meeting; and        (2)    any director who died or resigned since the last annual meeting.    (b)    (1)    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall appoint an individual to fill a vacancy on the board of directors if:            (i)    the board of directors does not call an annual meeting of landowners; or            (ii)    the board of directors holds an annual meeting of landowners but the landowners do not elect a director as required under subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    If there is a vacancy on the board of directors, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City may appoint a director to serve until the next annual meeting of landowners.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-304 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-304 - Board of Directors -- Tenure; Vacancies

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the term of each director elected or appointed under § 25–303 of this subtitle is 3 years.        (2)    Each director shall serve until a successor is elected or appointed.    (b)    A director who is elected or appointed to fill a vacancy caused by death or resignation shall hold the office for the rest of the term and until a successor is elected or appointed.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-305 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-305 - Officers; Surety Bonds

    (a)    The board of directors shall elect a chair, a secretary, and any other necessary officer from among its members.    (b)    The board of directors shall obtain a surety bond for any officer or employee who is entrusted with money.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-306 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-306 - Immunity From Liability

    An officer or a director of a watershed association shall have the immunity from liability described in § 5–508 of the Courts Article.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-307 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-307 - Distribution and Retention of Petition and Report

    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall:        (1)    retain the original petition and report approved under § 25–206(b) of this title; and        (2)    deliver a copy of the approved petition and report to the board of directors and the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-308 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-308 - Watershed File

    (a)    The designated officer with whom a petition for the establishment of a watershed association is filed shall maintain a watershed file.    (b)    The watershed file shall contain the petitions, motions, orders, reports, and other exhibits necessary for a complete record of the establishment of each watershed association in the county.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-309 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-309 - Annual Meeting of Landowners

    (a)    In January of each year, the board of directors shall call a meeting of landowners.    (b)    (1)    At least 10 days before the meeting, the board of directors shall post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the area or vicinity of the area affected by the watershed association.        (2)    The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.    (c)    At the meeting, the landowners shall:        (1)    receive the annual report of the board of directors; and        (2)    transact any other business that may properly come before the landowners.    (d)    The board of directors shall file a copy of the annual report and a copy of the minutes from the meeting with the designated officer.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-310 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 25-310 - Special Meetings

    (a)    The board of directors may call a special meeting of landowners at any time.    (b)    (1)    At least 10 days before the meeting, the board of directors shall:            (i)    post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the area or vicinity of the area affected by the watershed association; and            (ii)    mail a notice to each landowner in the watershed association.        (2)    The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 4 - Watershed Work Plan|Section 25-401 - Development

    (a)    (1)    The board of directors of the watershed association shall develop a work plan for the watershed or subwatershed area.        (2)    The watershed work plan may include:            (i)    watershed protection;            (ii)    flood prevention;            (iii)    recreation;            (iv)    soil conservation;            (v)    drainage; and            (vi)    the conservation, development, storage, use, and disposal of water for any beneficial purpose.    (b)    In developing the watershed work plan, the board of directors:        (1)    shall engage the services of private engineers; or        (2)    may use the services of planners and engineers of local, State, and federal units of government.    (c)    A member or an agent of the board of directors:        (1)    may enter the land to make surveys and examinations for developing a watershed work plan; and        (2)    is liable for actual damage done to any land entered during a survey or examination.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 4 - Watershed Work Plan|Section 25-402 - Contents

    The watershed work plan developed under § 25–401 of this subtitle shall include:        (1)    the location of each proposed watershed project on a map, drawing, or aerial photograph;        (2)    a general delineation of the boundaries of the area affected by the watershed association with the general location in the county affected;        (3)    engineering plans in sufficient detail to describe the proposed project;        (4)    a general delineation of the boundaries of each tract of land in the area affected by the watershed association, including an estimate of the acreage of each tract; and        (5)    the total estimated construction cost of each proposed watershed project.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 4 - Watershed Work Plan|Section 25-403 - Adoption of Plan

    (a)    On completion of the watershed work plan, or on the acceptance of a previously completed watershed work plan, the board of directors shall call a meeting of the landowners to vote on the adoption of the plan for submission to the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City.    (b)    (1)    At least 10 days before the meeting, the board of directors shall:            (i)    post a notice of the meeting in four public places in the area or vicinity of the area affected by the watershed association; and            (ii)    mail a notice to each landowner.        (2)    The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.    (c)    At the meeting required under subsection (a) of this section:        (1)    each landowner is entitled to one vote; and        (2)    any landowner may vote by proxy if the proxy is dated, signed by the individual entitled to vote, and witnessed by at least one individual.    (d)    (1)    The board of directors shall determine whether to submit the watershed work plan to the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City for review and approval.        (2)    In making the determination, the board of directors shall consider:            (i)    the vote of each landowner;            (ii)    the probable apportionment of benefits to each landowner based on acreage;            (iii)    the location of the watershed project; and            (iv)    the extent of the benefits to the voter’s land by the watershed project.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-404 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 4 - Watershed Work Plan|Section 25-404 - Filing With County

    (a)    (1)    If the board of directors decides to submit the watershed work plan to the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, the board of directors shall submit three copies of the watershed work plan.        (2)    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall forward a copy of the watershed work plan to the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.    (b)    The board of directors shall include with the submission of the watershed work plan a statement that the board of directors has determined that the watershed project:        (1)    is feasible;        (2)    will benefit the public and promote public health, safety, and welfare; and        (3)    will produce sufficient benefits to warrant the expenditure.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 4 - Watershed Work Plan|Section 25-405 - Supplemental Work Plan

    (a)    (1)    If, after the review and approval of the watershed work plan under § 25–404 of this subtitle, the board of directors determines that it is in the interest of the watershed association to modify the purpose, scope, or location of the watershed project covered in the watershed work plan in a manner that would change the benefits or damages to landowners, the board of directors shall develop a supplemental watershed work plan.        (2)    The supplemental watershed work plan shall:            (i)    be developed as provided in § 25–401 of this subtitle; and            (ii)    include the modified watershed project.    (b)    The board of directors and the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall follow the procedures set forth in §§ 25–402 through 25–404 of this subtitle in implementing the supplemental watershed work plan.    (c)    A watershed viewers’ report required under § 25–505 of this title based on a supplemental work plan developed and submitted under this subtitle that is approved by the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall supersede any prior watershed viewers’ report.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-501 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 5 - Board of Viewers|Section 25-501 - Appointment

    (a)    (1)    On approval of a watershed work plan submitted in accordance with § 25–404 of this title, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall appoint a board of viewers composed of at least three impartial individuals.        (2)    A member of the board of viewers may not be a landowner.    (b)    If a watershed project described in a watershed work plan is located in more than one county, at least one member of the board of viewers shall be from each county in which the watershed project is located.    (c)    An individual who is appointed as a member of a board of viewers may not act in that capacity until the individual provides written notice of acceptance of the appointment to the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City.    (d)    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall set the compensation for the members of a board of viewers.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 5 - Board of Viewers|Section 25-502 - Duties

    (a)    On receipt of a copy of a watershed work plan from the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City, a board of viewers:        (1)    (i)    shall engage the services of private engineers; or            (ii)    may use the services of planners and engineers of local, State, and federal units of government;        (2)    enter and view, with the individuals described in item (1) of this subsection, the land described in the watershed work plan and the proposed watershed project as laid out on the ground; and        (3)    make careful and thorough examination of the area to determine the benefits and damages that would result from the proposed watershed project to the land in the area affected by the watershed association.    (b)    A board of viewers shall consider as damages, without regard to any benefit that would result from the proposed watershed project:        (1)    the value of land taken for construction of the proposed watershed project;        (2)    inconvenience imposed by the construction of the proposed watershed project; and        (3)    other lawfully compensable damages.