reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-809 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 25-809 - Appropriations by Governmental Entities

    (a)    This section applies to the following governmental entities:        (1)    a county;        (2)    a drainage district;        (3)    a municipality;        (4)    a public drainage association; or        (5)    a soil conservation district.    (b)    A governmental entity that may reasonably be expected to receive a benefit from the construction, improvement, operation, or maintenance of any watershed project under this subtitle may spend money to construct, improve, operate, or maintain the watershed project, even if the watershed project is not located in the area served by the governmental entity or in the State.    (c)    (1)    If the payment under subsection (b) of this section is not made directly by the governmental entity for a watershed project, the payment shall be made only through a soil conservation district or a watershed association organized under the laws of the State.        (2)    It is not necessary that any part of the area served by the governmental entity be located in the soil conservation district or watershed association through which the payment is made.        (3)    A governmental entity may provide in its budget money for watershed projects.        (4)    A municipality or county may impose taxes for watershed projects in the manner provided by law.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-901 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 9 - Dissolution|Section 25-901 - Dissolution Procedure Generally

    (a)    (1)    A majority of the landowners or the owners of a majority of the land affected by a watershed association may submit a petition to dissolve the watershed association to the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City in which the watershed association was organized.        (2)    A complete list of the creditors of the watershed association certified under oath by the board of directors shall accompany the petition.    (b)    On receipt of a petition under subsection (a) of this section, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall:        (1)    set a date for a public hearing on the petition; and        (2)    give notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing at least 30 days before the hearing by:            (i)    notice mailed to each creditor of the watershed association and each landowner; and            (ii)    publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each county affected by the watershed association.    (c)    (1)    The county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City may deny or approve a petition for dissolution after a public hearing under this section.        (2)    On approval of a petition for dissolution, the county commissioners, county council, or Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City shall give notice of the dissolution in the same manner as required under subsection (b) of this section.    (d)    After payment of all debts, any balance in the county treasury to the credit of the dissolved watershed association shall be distributed to the landowners in proportion to the original assessments.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-902 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 9 - Dissolution|Section 25-902 - Inactive Association in Washington County

    (a)    Notwithstanding § 25–901 of this subtitle, on a written petition for dissolution by any member of the most recently elected or appointed board of directors of a watershed association in Washington County considered inactive as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the County Commissioners of Washington County promptly shall:        (1)    consider all available information to determine the current operating status and foreseeable operating potential of the watershed association; and        (2)    approve or deny the petition for dissolution.    (b)    For the purpose of this section, a watershed association in Washington County is considered inactive if for at least 5 years the watershed association has not complied substantially with a majority of the ordinary operating procedures required under this title, including:        (1)    the maintenance of ongoing and current information in the watershed file at the office of the clerk of the county;        (2)    election of a board of directors and officers of the board;        (3)    an annual meeting of landowners in the area affected by the watershed association;        (4)    the submission of an annual report by the board of directors to the clerk of the county;        (5)    the development, approval, filing, execution, or maintenance of a work plan applicable to property owned by the watershed association; and        (6)    the submission and regular updating of the watershed association’s easement record in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in the applicable county.    (c)    (1)    This subsection applies only after the County Commissioners of Washington County approve a petition for dissolution under this section.        (2)    If any balance remains in the county treasury to the credit of the dissolved watershed association, the county commissioners shall:            (i)    satisfy all outstanding debts of the watershed association; and            (ii)    retain any remaining balance.        (3)    The county commissioners shall provide for the transfer of any interest in real property held by the watershed association to the county in which the property is located.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-1001 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 10 - Miscellaneous|Section 25-1001 - Right to Open Cross Ditches or Drains

    (a)    A person who is assessed for a ditch or drain that does not pass through or under the person’s land may open a ditch or install drain tile through the intervening land to connect to the main ditch and keep the ditch or drain tile open at the person’s expense and control.    (b)    A person may not open a ditch or install drain tile under this section through the land of another person without the consent of the owner of the land.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-1002 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 10 - Miscellaneous|Section 25-1002 - Requirements When Improvement Crosses Public Highway

    (a)    If a watershed project established under this title crosses a public highway at the intersection of the highway with a natural watercourse or depression through which water flows during periods of high water, the county in which the bridge is located or the governmental unit required by law to maintain the highway that is intersected shall:        (1)    pay the cost of an existing bridge, repairing or enlarging an existing bridge and culvert, or constructing a new bridge or culvert; and        (2)    maintain the bridge or culvert described in item (1) of this subsection.    (b)    If a watershed project established under this title crosses a public highway at a point where the highway does not intersect a natural watercourse or depression:        (1)    the watershed association shall pay the cost of constructing a new bridge or culvert; and        (2)    after construction, the county or other governmental unit required by law to maintain the highway that is intersected shall maintain the bridge and any culvert constructed.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-1003 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 10 - Miscellaneous|Section 25-1003 - Requirements When Channel Crosses Railroad Right-of-Way

    (a)    If a channel established under this title crosses a railroad right–of–way at the intersection of the right–of–way with a natural watercourse or depression through which water flows at periods of high water, the railroad company shall:        (1)    construct, build, and maintain any necessary new bridge or culvert; or        (2)    enlarge, strengthen, reconstruct, or replace any existing bridge or culvert.    (b)    The expense to build a railroad under subsection (a) of this section shall be:        (1)    considered an element of damage to the railroad company by the board of viewers; and        (2)    shown as a damage in the report of the board of viewers.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-1101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts|Section 25-1101 - Preventing Entry on Watershed Land

    (a)    A person may not prevent a member of the board of directors or an employee or agent of the board of directors from entering land as authorized under § 25–401(c) of this title.    (b)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  25-1102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 25 - Public Watershed Associations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts|Section 25-1102 - Obstruction of Watershed Project

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not obstruct a watershed project constructed under this title in a manner that impedes the free flow of water.        (2)    A person may place a properly constructed swinging water gate across a ditch on a fence line to prevent livestock from trespassing through the ditch.    (b)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $20 for each offense.    (c)    Each fine collected under this section shall be paid to the county tax collector and credited to the watershed association that suffered the damage.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-101 - Definitions

    (a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Board of managers” means the board of managers of a drainage association.    (c)    “Board of viewers” means the board of drainage viewers established under this title.    (d)    “Designated officer” means:        (1)    the clerk of the county commissioners for a code county or commission county if there is a clerk for the county; or        (2)    an employee or official of the county who is designated by the county commissioner or county council to perform the responsibilities of the designated officer under this title.    (e)    “Drainage association” means a public drainage association established under this title.    (f)    “Landowner” means a person who owns, or has contracted to purchase, land that is to be affected by a drainage project being considered by a drainage association or proposed drainage association.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-102 - Scope of Title

    This title does not apply to Baltimore City.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-103 - Construction of Title

    This title does not:        (1)    restrict a charter county or code county from exercising a power granted under § 10–321 of this article; or        (2)    authorize:            (i)    the removal of a milldam;            (ii)    the interference with legal water rights of a mill; or            (iii)    the diversion of water in a manner that deprives an owner of land over which water flows of the benefits and water rights to which the owner of the land is legally entitled.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-104 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-104 - Power to Establish

    (a)    The county commissioners or county council of a county may establish a drainage association.    (b)    A drainage association may:        (1)    locate and establish a ditch, drain, or canal; and        (2)    establish and maintain a watershed drainage system by constructing, straightening, widening, or deepening any ditch, drain, or watercourse.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-105 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-105 - Statement of Public Benefit

    A drainage project established and maintained by a drainage association benefits the public and promotes public health, safety, and welfare.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-106 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-106 - Notice to Units of State Government

    The county commissioners or county council shall notify the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture of the establishment of a drainage association so that coordination and assistance may be provided in accordance with § 8–602 of the Agriculture Article.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-107 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 26-107 - Notice to Affected Nonresident

    If any owner of property affected by any proceedings under this title resides out of State, a written notice of the proceedings of the county commissioner or county council served on the tenant or agent of the owner at least 30 days before the proceedings shall be as good and sufficient as if the owner resided in the State.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage Association|Section 26-201 - Filing

    A petition to establish a drainage association shall be filed with the designated officer of the county in which all or a part of the land to be affected by the proposed drainage association is located.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage Association|Section 26-202 - Petition

    (a)    The petition shall:        (1)    clearly describe the area’s location, boundaries, and need of drainage for optimal crop production;        (2)    describe how draining or ditching the area or changing the natural watercourse benefits the public or promotes the public health, safety, or welfare; and        (3)    request the establishment of a drainage 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.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage Association|Section 26-203 - Report Required

    (a)    (1)    The petition shall be accompanied by a report from the local soil conservation districts serving the area of the proposed drainage association.        (2)    The report shall state:            (i)    the size and location of the area of the proposed drainage 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 drainage association is feasible and is generally supported by the landowners in the area;            (v)    whether the proposed drainage association will benefit the public and promote the public health, safety, and welfare;            (vi)    the name of the proposed drainage association, in the form of the “________ Public Drainage Association”; and            (vii)    the number of managers, equaling not less than three, to serve as the board of managers.    (b)    The local soil conservation districts shall file with the report maps that show:        (1)    a general delineation of the area of the proposed drainage association; and        (2)    the area’s location in each county in which it lies.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage Association|Section 26-204 - Examination of Petition and Report; Hearing; Notice

    (a)    (1)    The county commissioners or county council shall examine the petition and report at the first meeting after receiving the petition and report.        (2)    If the county commissioners or county council 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 petition and report are in proper form and in compliance with the law, the county commissioners or county council 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 or county council 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 proposed drainage association would be located; and            (ii)    send notice of the hearing and any later hearing to the:                1.    Department of Agriculture; and                2.    State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.        (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. §  26-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage Association|Section 26-205 - Multiple Counties -- Jurisdiction and Venue

    If the land described in the petition is located in two or more counties, the county commissioners or county council 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. §  26-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage Association|Section 26-206 - 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 or county council 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. §  26-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 26-301 - Establishment of Drainage Association

    (a)    On approval of the petition and report filed under Subtitle 2 of this title, the county commissioners or county council shall:        (1)    establish a drainage association that is composed of the landowners; and        (2)    name the organization the “_______ Public Drainage Association”.    (b)    A drainage association created under this title is a political subdivision of the State and a body politic and corporate.    (c)    A drainage 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. §  26-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 3 - Establishment and Organization|Section 26-302 - Board of Managers -- Initial Election

    (a)    Within 30 days after the approval of the petition and report, the county commissioners or county council shall call a meeting of the landowners to elect a board of managers.    (b)    (1)    At least 10 days before the meeting, the county commissioners or county council shall post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the area or vicinity of the area of the drainage association.        (2)    The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.    (c)    (1)    Each landowner is entitled to vote in the election of the board of managers until the board of viewers report is approved by the county commissioners or county council.        (2)    When the report of the board of viewers is approved, each landowner is entitled to vote according to the special assessment on the landowner shown in the report as follows:            (i)    for any special assessment not exceeding $15, one vote;            (ii)    for any special assessment more than $15 and not exceeding $35, two votes;            (iii)    for any special assessment more than $35 and not exceeding $60, three votes;            (iv)    for any special assessment more than $60 and not exceeding $100, four votes;            (v)    for any special assessment more than $100, one additional vote for each $50 in excess of $100, plus one additional vote for any remaining part less than $50.        (3)    Any landowner may vote by written proxy signed by the landowner.    (d)    A quorum consists of the number of landowners who are entitled to cast a majority of all the votes as provided in subsection (c) of this section.    (e)    On proof that notice has been given as required in subsection (b) of this section, if a quorum is not obtained, the county commissioners or county council shall appoint the managers.    (f)    The board of managers elected under subsection (a) of this section shall determine by a random drawing the managers 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.