reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-513 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 5 - Board of Viewers|Section 26-513 - Judicial Review

    (a)    A person who is aggrieved by a determination of the county commissioners or county council or by any proceedings under this title relating to drains may appeal to the circuit court of the county in which the determination was made or proceedings were conducted.    (b)    Either party may elect a trial by jury and the judgment in the trial shall be final between the parties.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-601 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 6 - Rights-of-Way, Easements, and Condemnation|Section 26-601 - Rights-of-Way and Easements Generally

    (a)    The board of managers may acquire any right–of–way and easement necessary to construct and maintain the drainage projects or dispose of excavated material according to an approved operation and maintenance plan.    (b)    (1)    The board of managers of each drainage association shall submit to the clerk of the circuit court in the appropriate county a book, to be known as the “easement record”, that contains each easement for maintenance or right–of–way, according to the original design specifications or for not less than 20 feet, that the drainage association has in the county.        (2)    A drainage association shall keep the easement record current.        (3)    The clerk of a circuit court shall make an easement record available for inspection by the public.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-602 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 6 - Rights-of-Way, Easements, and Condemnation|Section 26-602 - Condemnation Proceedings

    If a landowner refuses to accept the damages awarded to the landowner by the board of viewers and approved by the county commissioners or county council and refuses the necessary access to the landowner’s land, the board of managers may begin condemnation proceedings under Title 12 of the Real Property Article to acquire a right–of–way.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-701 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 7 - Implementation of Plan|Section 26-701 - Powers and Duties of Managers

    (a)    The board of managers shall implement the drainage project.    (b)    The board of managers may:        (1)    hire employees;        (2)    buy, hire, or rent machines, and buy explosives;        (3)    award contracts;        (4)    enter into an agreement with any county, State, or federal unit of government; and        (5)    do other acts as necessary, including borrowing money, in the name of the board of managers, if the borrowing is approved by the county commissioners or county council.    (c)    The county tax collector shall make payment on behalf of the drainage association as directed by the board of managers.    (d)    The board of managers shall:        (1)    keep a regular account of its income and expenses; and        (2)    report its income and expenses to the annual meetings of the drainage association and meetings of the landowners.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-702 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 7 - Implementation of Plan|Section 26-702 - Maintenance and Operation of Drainage Projects

    (a)    The board of managers shall control and supervise each drainage project under this title.    (b)    The board of managers shall keep each drainage project in good repair in accordance with an approved operation and maintenance plan.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-801 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 26-801 - Imposition of Special Assessments on Benefited Lands

    (a)    A special assessment imposed under this title shall be imposed on the lands benefited by a drainage project.    (b)    If a tract of land subject to a special assessment under this title is divided, the board of managers shall determine the ratio in which any later special assessment is to be imposed on each subdivided tract of land based on the proportion of the benefit to each tract.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-802 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 26-802 - Implementation of Plan

    (a)    The board of managers shall determine the amount of money to be raised to implement an approved drainage project.    (b)    The board of managers shall prepare an assessment list that shows the amount due from each landowner subject to the special assessment.    (c)    The special assessments imposed on each tract of land shall be proportional to the total assessments.    (d)    The assessment list required under subsection (b) of this section shall be:        (1)    signed by the board of managers; and        (2)    sent to the designated officer.    (e)    (1)    The designated officer shall certify the conformance of the assessment list with this section.        (2)    After receiving the certification of the assessment list, the county commissioners or county council shall certify the assessment list to the county tax collector.    (f)    (1)    The county tax collector shall include the special assessments imposed under this section in the next bills for county taxes.        (2)    The special assessments are:            (i)    due and collectible at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes; and            (ii)    subject to the same interest and penalties for late payment and nonpayment as county taxes.    (g)    If the special assessments collected under this section are insufficient to complete the drainage project, a supplemental special assessment shall be imposed in the same manner.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-804 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 26-804 - Annual Special Assessment for Maintenance and Operation

    (a)    (1)    The board of managers may impose a special assessment on the public and private benefited land for maintenance of a drainage project constructed under this title.        (2)    If the board of managers requests, the county commissioners or county council may appoint a board of viewers to evaluate changes in land use made after the original determination for a drainage project.        (3)    The board of managers may use the evaluation report as a basis to impose a special assessment for maintenance of a drainage project.    (b)    The special assessments under this section shall be imposed and disbursed in the same manner as provided for other special assessments under this subtitle, except that the board of managers may, at any time, determine which land is classified as woodland, cropland, commercial, industrial, or residential.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-805 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 26-805 - Duties of County Tax Collector

    (a)    The special assessments imposed under this subtitle shall remain in the county treasury until disbursed by the county tax collector on orders signed by the board of managers.    (b)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the county tax collector shall be entitled to retain 3% of the drainage special assessments collected under this subtitle as compensation.        (2)    In Caroline County, the county tax collector shall deposit all fees collected into the general fund of Caroline County.    (c)    For each drainage association in the county, the county tax collector shall keep a separate record that shows all income and expenses.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-806 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 26-806 - Collection of Special Assessments if Land in Multiple Counties

    (a)    If the lands of the drainage association that are subject to assessment are located in two or more counties, the board of managers shall prepare a separate assessment list for each county.    (b)    The board of managers shall send the assessment list for each county to the designated officer for the county in which the drainage association was organized.    (c)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the procedure to impose a special assessment under this section shall be as provided under § 26–802 of this subtitle.        (2)    (i)    The county commissioners or county council of the county in which the drainage association was organized shall certify the assessment lists for the other counties to the appropriate county commissioners or county council.            (ii)    The county commissioners or county council shall then certify the tax assessment lists to the respective county tax collectors for action as provided under § 26–802 of this subtitle.    (d)    All money collected in the several counties as provided under this section shall be paid over to the county tax collector of the county in which the drainage association was organized and credited to the drainage association.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-807 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 8 - Financing|Section 26-807 - Order of Payments to Be Made by Board of Managers

    (a)    From the money that first becomes available under this title to the board of managers, the board of managers shall pay:        (1)    the compensation and expenses of the board of viewers and the engineers;        (2)    any damages awarded;        (3)    any compensation awarded for existing drainage projects; and        (4)    the expenses incident to the organization of the drainage association.    (b)    (1)    On request by the board of managers, the county commissioners or county council may advance funds to pay the costs in subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    An advance under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be repaid from the money first received to pay special assessments imposed on the landowners for the drainage project.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-901 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 9 - Dissolution|Section 26-901 - Dissolution Procedure Generally

    (a)    (1)    A majority of the landowners or the owners of a majority of the land in the area of a drainage association may submit a petition to dissolve the drainage association to the county commissioners or county council of the county in which the drainage association was organized.        (2)    A complete list of the creditors of the drainage association certified under oath by the board of managers shall accompany the petition.    (b)    On receipt of a petition under subsection (a) of this section, the county commissioners or county council 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 drainage association and each landowner; and            (ii)    publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each county affected by the drainage association.    (c)    (1)    The county commissioners or county council 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 or county council 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 drainage association shall be distributed to the landowners in proportion to the original assessments.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-902 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 9 - Dissolution|Section 26-902 - Dissolution of Inactive Association

    (a)    For the purpose of this section, a drainage association is considered inactive if for at least 5 years the drainage 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 drainage file at the office of the designated officer;        (2)    election of a board of managers and officers of the board;        (3)    an annual meeting of landowners;        (4)    the submission of an annual report by the board of managers to the designated officer;        (5)    the development, approval, filing, execution, or maintenance of a work plan applicable to property owned by the drainage association; and        (6)    the submission and regular updating of the drainage association’s easement record in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in the applicable county.    (b)    Notwithstanding § 26–901 of this subtitle, on a written petition for dissolution by any member of the most recently elected or appointed board of managers of an inactive drainage association, the county commissioners or county council of the county in which the drainage association was organized promptly shall:        (1)    provide public notice that the county commissioners or county council has received and is considering a petition for dissolution of a drainage association;        (2)    hold a public hearing to accept public comment before taking any action on the petition;        (3)    consider all available information to determine the current operating status and foreseeable operating potential of the drainage association; and        (4)    approve or deny the petition for dissolution.    (c)    If the county commissioners or county council approve a petition for dissolution under this section, the county commissioners or county council shall:        (1)    satisfy all outstanding debts of the drainage association if any balance remains in the county treasury to the credit of the dissolved drainage association;        (2)    retain any remaining balance; and        (3)    provide for the transfer of any interest in real property held by the inactive drainage association to any county in which the property is located.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-1001 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 10 - Miscellaneous|Section 26-1001 - Right to Open Cross Ditches or Drains

    (a)    A person who is assessed for a ditch or drain that does not pass through or on 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 through the land of another person without the consent of the owner of the land, unless the damages to the land accruing to the owner of the land are assessed by three owners of land appointed by the county commissioners or county council to assess the damages.    (c)    A person seeking to open a ditch or install drain tile under this section shall:        (1)    pay the costs of laying out and opening the ditch or drain; and        (2)    pay all damages awarded to any person who is injured by the ditch or drain before making the ditch or drain.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-1002 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 10 - Miscellaneous|Section 26-1002 - Requirements When Drainage Project Crosses Public Highway

    (a)    If a drainage 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 drainage 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 drainage 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. §  26-1003 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 10 - Miscellaneous|Section 26-1003 - Requirements When Drainage Project Crosses Railroad Right-of-Way

    (a)    If a drainage project 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 the 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. §  26-1101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts|Section 26-1101 - Preventing Entry on Drainage Land

    (a)    A person may not prevent a member, an employee, or an agent of the board of managers or a member or an agent of the board of viewers from entering land as authorized under § 26–401(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 $500.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  26-1102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 26 - Public Drainage Associations|Subtitle 11 - Prohibited Acts|Section 26-1102 - Obstruction of Drainage Project

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not obstruct a drainage 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 $500 for each offense.    (c)    Each fine collected under this section shall be paid to the county tax collector and credited to the drainage association that suffered the damage.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 27-101 - Definitions

    (a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Board of drainage commissioners” means the board of drainage commissioners of a drainage district.    (c)    “Board of viewers” means the board of viewers of a drainage district 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 a county who is designated by the county commissioners or county council to perform the responsibilities of the designated officer under this title.    (e)    “Drainage district” means a drainage district established under this title.    (f)    “Landowner” means a person who owns land located in a drainage district or proposed drainage district.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 27-102 - Scope of Title

    This title does not apply to Baltimore City.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 27-103 - Construction of Title

    This title shall be liberally construed to promote the ditching, draining, leveeing, and reclaiming of wet and overflowed land that can be made available for agriculture.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-104 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 27-104 - Power to Establish

    In response to a petition filed under § 27–201 of this title, the county commissioners or a county council of a county may establish a drainage district to:        (1)    locate and establish a levee, drain, or canal;        (2)    construct, straighten, widen, or deepen a ditch, drain, or watercourse; and        (3)    construct levees, embankments, tidewater gates, and pumping plants to drain and reclaim wet, swamp, or overflowed land.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-105 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 27-105 - Declaration of Public Benefit

    The drainage of swamps, the drainage of the surface water from agricultural land, and the reclamation of tidal marshes benefit the public and promote public health, safety, and welfare.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage District|Section 27-201 - Petition -- Filing

    A petition to establish a drainage district shall be filed with the designated officer where all or a part of the land is located.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  27-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division V - Other Local Entities|Title 27 - Drainage Districts|Subtitle 2 - Petition to Establish Drainage District|Section 27-202 - Petition -- Contents and Signatures

    (a)    A petition shall:        (1)    state that a specific area of land is subject to overflow or is too wet for cultivation;        (2)    describe the area’s location;        (3)    describe how draining, ditching, or leveeing the area, changing the natural watercourse, or other drainage projects benefit the public or promote the public health, safety, or welfare; and        (4)    specify, to the extent practicable, the starting point, route, and terminus and any lateral branches of the proposed drainage project.    (b)    A petition is valid only if signed by the majority of the resident landowners in the proposed drainage district or the owners of three–fifths of the land that will be affected by or assessed to finance the proposed drainage project.