reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-201 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “County liaison” means a county official, or the designee of the county official, who coordinates communication between the organizing committee and the county.    (c)    “Organizing committee” means the group of individuals from the organizing community that works with the county commissioners or county council on the proposed municipal incorporation after a petition for incorporation is verified.    (d)    “Organizing community” means individuals residing in an unincorporated area who are interested in forming a municipality.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-202 - Application of Subtitle

    This subtitle governs municipal incorporation.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-203 - Minimum Number of Residents Required

    An area proposed to be incorporated shall contain at least 300 residents before the organizing community may proceed under this subtitle.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-205 - Report of Organizing Committee

    (a)    (1)    Within 90 days after the county commissioners or county council has verified that a petition presented under § 4–204 of this subtitle is valid, the organizing committee shall:            (i)    actively seek information and input from the county;            (ii)    hold a public meeting to collect testimony on the proposed incorporation; and            (iii)    provide the county commissioners or county council with a report on issues related to the proposed incorporation.        (2)    During the 90–day period, the county shall cooperate fully with the organizing committee.    (b)    The organizing committee shall:        (1)    notify the county liaison of all meetings and deliberations of the organizing committee; and        (2)    give the county liaison full opportunity to participate in all meetings and deliberations of the organizing committee.    (c)    Within 45 days after receiving the report required under subsection (a)(1)(iii) of this section, the county commissioners or county council or its designee may review the report and provide comments to the organizing committee on issues relating to the proposed incorporation.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-206 - Submission of Proposed Municipal Charter

    (a)    The organizing committee shall present to the county commissioners or county council a proposed municipal charter:        (1)    within 45 days after receiving the comments submitted to the organizing committee under § 4–205(c) of this subtitle; or        (2)    if the county commissioners or county council has not submitted comments, within 90 days after the report is submitted by the organizing committee under § 4–205(a)(1)(iii) of this subtitle.    (b)    The organizing committee shall submit statements with the proposed municipal charter describing:        (1)    the likely fiscal effect of the proposed incorporation on residents of the proposed municipality, residents in the vicinity of the proposed municipality, and the county;        (2)    the services that the proposed municipality is expected to provide; and        (3)    the impact that the proposed incorporation is expected to have on property tax rates.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-207 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-207 - Referendum Request

    (a)    (1)    If the county commissioners or county council approves the referendum request, between 40 and 60 days after it receives the proposed municipal charter, the county commissioners or county council shall specify, by resolution, the day and hours for a vote on the proposed incorporation by the voters of the area to be incorporated.        (2)    The resolution shall include the exact text of the proposed municipal charter as submitted by the organizing committee.    (b)    (1)    If the county commissioners or county council rejects the referendum request, the county commissioners or county council shall:            (i)    provide in writing and make available to the public within a reasonable time the reasons for the rejection; and            (ii)    establish reasonable procedures by which the county commissioners or county council shall reconsider a referendum request, including an opportunity for a public hearing with sufficient advance public notice.        (2)    After the hearing and reconsideration process is completed, the county commissioners or county council, by resolution, shall affirm the rejection or approve the referendum request.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-208 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-208 - Posting and Publication

    (a)    The county commissioners or county council shall notify the voters of the area proposed to be incorporated by posting and publication of the proposal to incorporate, including a fair summary of the proposed municipal charter.    (b)    For at least 4 weeks immediately before the referendum, the county commissioners or county council shall make available an exact copy of the proposed municipal charter for public inspection at its office.    (c)    The county commissioners or county council shall publish notice of the referendum, together with a fair summary of the proposed municipal charter, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed to be incorporated at least once a week during the 4 weeks immediately before the referendum.    (d)    On the day of the referendum, the county commissioners or county council shall make available an exact copy of the proposed municipal charter for public inspection at each place for voting on the referendum.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-209 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-209 - Referendum; Proclamation of Result

    (a)    Except as expressly or necessarily modified by this subtitle, a referendum shall be conducted generally according to the procedures and practices for regular countywide elections.    (b)    (1)    On the day and during the hours specified for the referendum, the question of incorporation under the proposed municipal charter shall be submitted to the registered voters of the area proposed to be incorporated.        (2)    The county board of elections shall arrange for and conduct the referendum.        (3)    The wording specified by the county commissioners or county council in the resolution authorizing a referendum on the question of the proposed incorporation shall be placed on the ballots used at the referendum.    (c)    Promptly after the canvass is complete, the county board of elections shall certify the results to the county commissioners or county council.    (d)    Within 10 days after receiving a certification of the vote on the referendum from the county board of elections:        (1)    if a majority of those who voted on the question voted in favor of incorporation under the proposed municipal charter:            (i)    the county commissioners or county council publicly shall so proclaim; and            (ii)    on the 30th day after the public proclamation, the area proposed to be incorporated shall become a municipality operating under the municipal charter; or        (2)    if less than a majority of those who voted on the question voted in favor of incorporation under the proposed municipal charter:            (i)    the county commissioners or county council publicly shall so proclaim; and            (ii)    the proclamation shall state that the proposed incorporation is not approved.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-210 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-210 - Nomination and Election of Municipal Officers

    (a)    An election of officers for a proposed municipality shall be conducted at the same time and place as the referendum on the question of incorporation and is subject to the same procedures and practices.    (b)    An individual may not be initially nominated or elected to a municipal office unless the individual qualifies under the requirements specified for that office in the proposed municipal charter.    (c)    (1)    A candidate for an elected office of a proposed municipality shall be nominated by a certificate of nomination filed by the candidate with the county board of elections.        (2)    The certificate of nomination shall include:            (i)    the name and residence address of the candidate; and            (ii)    the office that the candidate seeks.    (d)    After certificates of nomination by candidates for municipal office are filed, the county board of elections shall prepare ballots to allow the registered voters of the area proposed to be incorporated to vote on the candidates who are nominated under this section.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-211 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-211 - Tally and Certification of Election Results

    (a)    Casting a vote against the proposed incorporation does not prevent the voter from voting for a candidate for a municipal office.    (b)    The county board of elections shall:        (1)    tally the votes cast for candidates to a municipal office; and        (2)    certify the results to the county commissioners or county council.    (c)    If less than a majority of those who voted on the question voted in favor of incorporation under the proposed municipal charter, the votes cast for candidates for a municipal office are void.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-212 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-212 - Proclamation of Elected Officers; Appointment Process

    (a)    The county commissioners or county council publicly shall proclaim that a candidate who received a plurality of the votes cast for an office has been elected to that office.    (b)    A candidate proclaimed by the county commissioners or county council to have been elected to an office shall become an officer of the municipality when the municipal charter takes effect.    (c)    (1)    If no individual is nominated for a municipal office, a candidate elected to an office is unable to assume the office, or for any other reason no candidate is elected to fill an office, the county commissioners or county council shall appoint a resident of the municipality to the office.        (2)    When appointed to an office as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, a resident shall hold the office as if elected.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-213 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-213 - Cost of Referendum and Election of Officers

    (a)    Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the county commissioners or county council shall pay for:        (1)    the referendum;        (2)    the original election of officers required under § 4–210 of this subtitle; and        (3)    the reasonable costs of third party consultants hired by the county commissioners or county council to analyze issues related to the proposed incorporation.    (b)    If the referendum results in incorporation, the municipality shall repay the expenses specified in subsection (a) of this section to the county within 1 year after the incorporation takes effect.    (c)    After 1 year from the effective date of the incorporation, the county commissioners or county council may withhold any payment due to the municipality to satisfy any unpaid expense specified in subsection (a) of this section.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-214 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-214 - Registration of Municipal Charter

    (a)    When the public proclamation under § 4–209(d) of this subtitle is made, the county commissioners or county council shall send the information concerning the municipal charter to the Department of Legislative Services, as provided in § 4–109 of this title.    (b)    The municipal charter is subject to the requirements of §§ 4–310 and 4–311 of this title.    (c)    The exact text of the municipal charter, including any amendments, shall be included in any edition or codification of the municipal charter.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-215 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-215 - Schedule for Phasing in Local Income Tax Payments

    If a referendum held under this subtitle results in the creation of a new municipality, the local income tax payments authorized under § 2–607 of the Tax – General Article shall be distributed to the municipality as follows, unless the county commissioners or county council agrees to an accelerated payment schedule:        (1)    in the first full fiscal year after the municipal incorporation takes effect, one–third of the distribution otherwise required under § 2–607 of the Tax – General Article;        (2)    in the second fiscal year after the municipal incorporation takes effect, two–thirds of the distribution otherwise required under § 2–607 of the Tax – General Article; and        (3)    in the third fiscal year after the municipal incorporation takes effect and each subsequent fiscal year, all of the distribution required under § 2–607 of the Tax – General Article.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-216 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 2 - Incorporation of Municipalities|Section 4-216 - Comprehensive Land Use Plan

    (a)    A new municipality that is eligible to assume planning and zoning authority and the county commissioners or county council shall cooperate in developing the first comprehensive land use plan of the municipality.    (b)    Unless the county commissioners or county council expressly approves otherwise, the initial zoning designations used by the municipality shall comply with §§ 4–104(e) and 4–516 of this title, including the 5–year zoning classification restriction.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-301 - Procedure to Amend Charter

    A municipality shall act in accordance with this subtitle in exercising the powers to amend its municipal charter that are granted under Article XI–E of the Maryland Constitution.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-302 - Initiation of Charter Amendment -- in General

    An amendment to a municipal charter may be initiated by:        (1)    the legislative body of the municipality as provided in § 4–304 of this subtitle; or        (2)    a petition of the qualified voters of the municipality as provided in § 4–305 of this subtitle.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-303 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-303 - Form of Proposed Charter Amendment

    (a)    In conformity with the requirement imposed on the General Assembly under Article III, § 29 of the Maryland Constitution:        (1)    a resolution or petition to amend a municipal charter shall contain the exact text of the proposed charter amendment, prepared so that each provision is shown as the provision would read when amended or enacted;        (2)    except as provided in subsection (e)(2) of this section, a provision of a municipal charter may not be amended by reference to its title or citation only; and        (3)    a municipal charter amendment shall:            (i)    embrace one subject only; and            (ii)    describe the subject in its title.    (b)    A proposed amendment shall identify the provision to be amended by citing the code or other publication or amendment in which the most recent text of the provision appears.    (c)    Proposed amendments shall be in a consecutively numbered series.    (d)    A proposed amendment shall provide specifically for the repeal of a provision of the municipal charter that is inconsistent with the amended provision.    (e)    (1)    In a proposal to amend a municipal charter:            (i)    each addition shall be underscored, italicized, or shown in capital letters;            (ii)    subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each provision to be repealed shall be enclosed in double parentheses or boldface brackets; and            (iii)    each new section shall be underscored, italicized, or shown in capital letters or contain some marginal or other notation to that effect.        (2)    Each entire section to be repealed need not be written out in full and enclosed in double parentheses or boldface brackets.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-305 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-305 - Initiation of Charter Amendment by Petition of Voters

    (a)    (1)    By a petition presented to the legislative body of a municipality, at least 20% of the qualified voters for the municipal general election may initiate a proposed amendment to the municipal charter.        (2)    Each individual signing the petition shall indicate on the petition the individual’s name and residence address.    (b)    (1)    On receiving the petition, the legislative body shall verify that each individual who signed the petition is a qualified voter for the municipal general election.        (2)    The petition has no effect if it is signed by less than 20% of the qualified voters for the municipal general election.    (c)    (1)    Before voting on the proposed amendment initiated by the petition presented under subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body shall:            (i)    hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment; and            (ii)    give at least 21 days’ advance notice of the public hearing.        (2)    If the legislative body approves of the amendment in the petition presented under subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body may adopt the proposed amendment by resolution and proceed in the same manner as if the amendment had been initiated by the legislative body and in compliance with §§ 4–303(a) and 4–304 of this subtitle.    (d)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if the petition complies with this section, the legislative body, no later than 60 days after the petition is presented to the legislative body, shall specify by resolution adopted in accordance with its normal legislative procedure:        (1)    the day and hours for the referendum; and        (2)    the exact text that is to be placed on the ballot.    (e)    (1)    The legislative body may schedule the referendum for the next regular municipal general election or at a special election.        (2)    If the legislative body schedules a special election, it shall be held not less than 40 days or more than 60 days after the resolution scheduling the referendum is adopted.    (f)    The chief executive officer of the municipality shall give notice of a submission of a proposed charter amendment by:        (1)    (i)    posting an exact copy of the proposed amendment at the main municipal building or other public place for at least 4 weeks immediately preceding the referendum at which the question is to be submitted; and            (ii)    on the day of the referendum, posting a similar copy at the place for voting; and        (2)    publishing notice of the referendum and a fair summary of the proposed amendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once in each of the 4 weeks immediately preceding the referendum.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-306 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-306 - Rescission of Proposed Charter Amendment Prohibited

    After a resolution is adopted by the legislative body or after its submission in a petition, a proposal to amend a municipal charter may not be rescinded in any manner except by another charter amendment.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-307 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-307 - Referendum on Charter Amendment

    (a)    On the day and during the hours specified in the resolution for a referendum, the charter amendment shall be submitted to the qualified voters.    (b)    (1)    Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the referendum shall be conducted generally according to the procedures for regular municipal elections.        (2)    The official who conducts the regular municipal election shall perform the same duties for the referendum.    (c)    The municipality shall pay for the referendum.    (d)    Promptly after the canvas is complete, the official who conducts the referendum shall certify the results to the chief executive officer of the municipality.    (e)    Within 10 days after receiving the certification:        (1)    if a majority of those who voted on the question voted for the proposed charter amendment:            (i)    the chief executive officer of the municipality publicly shall so proclaim; and            (ii)    on the 30th day after the public proclamation, the charter amendment shall become part of the municipal charter; or        (2)    if less than a majority of those who voted on the question voted for the proposed charter amendment:            (i)    the chief executive officer of the municipality publicly shall so proclaim; and            (ii)    the proclamation shall state that the charter amendment is not approved.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-308 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-308 - Registration of Adopted Charter Amendment

    When a charter amendment becomes effective, the chief executive officer of the municipality shall send the information concerning the charter amendment to the Department of Legislative Services as provided in § 4–109 of this title.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-309 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 3 - Amendment or Repeal of Charter|Section 4-309 - Codification of Adopted Charter Amendment

    The exact text of an amendment to a municipal charter then effective shall be included in any later edition or codification of the charter.