Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1031 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1031
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1031
8	8	M1 2lr1711
9	9	CF SB 791
10	10	By: Delegates Luedtke and Stein
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Environment and Transportation and Appropriations
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Natural Resources – Land Conservation – Establishment of Goals and Programs 2
19	19	(Maryland the Beautiful Act) 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of establishing certain goals and programs related to land conservation; 4
22	22	establishing the Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Program to provide loans to 5
23	23	certain land trusts to purchase land for conservation purposes; establishing the Local 6
24	24	Land Trust Revolving Loan Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring interest 7
25	25	earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; requiring the Governor, beginning 8
26	26	in a certain fiscal year, to include in the annual budget bill a certain appropriation 9
27	27	to the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund; establishing the 10
28	28	Greenspace Equity Program to enhance the public health and livability of 11
29	29	underserved areas by implementing projects to preserve, create, and enhance 12
30	30	community greenspace; and generally relating to land conservation in the State. 13
31	31
32	32	BY adding to 14
33	33	Article – Natural Resources 15
34	34	New part designation “Part I. General Provisions” to immediately precede Section 16
35	35	3–201; Section 3–214 through 3–216 to be under the new part “Part II. Local 17
36	36	Land Trust Revolving Loan Program”; 5–104; and 5–9D–01 through 5–9D–04 18
37	37	to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 9D. Greenspace Equity Program” 19
38	38	Annotated Code of Maryland 20
39	39	(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 21
40	40
41	41	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
42	42	Article – Natural Resources 23
43	43	Section 5–307(b) 24
44	44	Annotated Code of Maryland 25
45	45	(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 26
46	46
47	47	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 27
48	48	Article – Natural Resources 28 2 HOUSE BILL 1031
49	49
50	50
51	51	Section 5–307(f) 1
52	52	Annotated Code of Maryland 2
53	53	(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 3
54	54
55	55	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 4
56	56	Article – State Finance and Procurement 5
57	57	Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 6
58	58	Annotated Code of Maryland 7
59	59	(2021 Replacement Volume) 8
60	60
61	61	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
62	62	Article – State Finance and Procurement 10
63	63	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)144. and 145. 11
64	64	Annotated Code of Maryland 12
65	65	(2021 Replacement Volume) 13
66	66
67	67	BY adding to 14
68	68	Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
69	69	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)146. 16
70	70	Annotated Code of Maryland 17
71	71	(2021 Replacement Volume) 18
72	72
73	73	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GE NERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
74	74	That the new part designation “Part I. General Provisions” be added to immediately 20
75	75	precede Section 3–201 of Article – Natural Resources of the Annotated Code of Maryland. 21
76	76
77	77	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 22
78	78	as follows: 23
79	79
80	80	Article – Natural Resources 24
81	81
82	82	3–212. RESERVED. 25
83	83
84	84	3–213. RESERVED. 26
85	85
86	86	PART II. LOCAL LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. 27
87	87
88	88	3–214. 28
89	89
90	90	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 29
91	91	INDICATED. 30
92	92
93	93	(B) “ADVISORY COMMITTEE” MEANS THE LAND PRESERVATION RAPID 31
94	94	RESPONSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 32
95	95	HOUSE BILL 1031 3
96	96
97	97
98	98	(C) “BOARD OF TRUSTEES” MEANS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE 1
99	99	MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. 2
100	100
101	101	(D) “EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE 3
102	102	MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. 4
103	103
104	104	(E) “FUND” MEANS THE LOCAL LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN FUND. 5
105	105
106	106	(F) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE LOCAL LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN 6
107	107	PROGRAM. 7
108	108
109	109	3–215. 8
110	110
111	111	(A) THERE IS A LOCAL LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. 9
112	112
113	113	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO: 10
114	114
115	115	(1) SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF LOCAL LAND TRUSTS THAT WORK 11
116	116	WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND THAT HAVE DIFFIC ULTY 12
117	117	ACCESSING MONEY FROM EXISTING PROGRAM OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION 13
118	118	PROGRAMS IN A TIMELY MANNER; AND 14
119	119
120	120	(2) PROVIDE REVOLVING LOA NS TO LAND TRUSTS ON A ROLLING 15
121	121	BASIS TO ASSIST THE LAND TRUSTS TO PURCH ASE PROPERTY . 16
122	122
123	123	(C) A LAND TRUST THAT RECEIVES A PROGRAM LOAN TO PURCHASE 17
124	124	PROPERTY IN ACCORDAN CE WITH SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L REPAY 18
125	125	THE FUND: 19
126	126
127	127	(1) AT A RATE TO BE DETER MINED BY THE MARYLAND 20
128	128	ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST, NOT TO EXCEED ONE PO INT BELOW THE PRIME INTEREST 21
129	129	RATE; AND 22
130	130
131	131	(2) AFTER THE PROPERTY IS : 23
132	132
133	133	(I) PLACED UNDER EASEMENT; OR 24
134	134
135	135	(II) TRANSFERRED TO A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN MENT 25
136	136	ENTITY. 26
137	137
138	138	(D) (1) THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTER ED BY THE MARYLAND 27
139	139	ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST. 28
140	140	4 HOUSE BILL 1031
141	141
142	142
143	143	(2) THE MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST MAY AUTHORIZE A 1
144	144	NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON TO MANAGE AND ADM INISTER THE PROGRAM ON ITS 2
145	145	BEHALF. 3
146	146
147	147	(E) (1) THERE IS A LAND PRESERVATION RAPID RESPONSE ADVISORY 4
148	148	COMMITTEE. 5
149	149
150	150	(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO: 6
151	151
152	152	(I) REVIEW AND PRIORITIZE PROGRAM LOAN APPLICATIONS 7
153	153	FOR FINAL APPROVAL B Y THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; AND 8
154	154
155	155	(II) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE 9
156	156	COMMITTEE ON : 10
157	157
158	158	1. WHICH PROJECTS TO FUN D, WHETHER IN WHOLE OR 11
159	159	IN PART; AND 12
160	160
161	161	2. THE FUNDING TO BE ALLOCATED TO EACH PR OJECT. 13
162	162
163	163	(3) THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF: 14
164	164
165	165	(I) A REPRESENTATIVE OF TH E DEPARTMENT , SELECTED BY 15
166	166	THE SECRETARY; AND 16
167	167
168	168	(II) THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF 17
169	169	TRUSTEES: 18
170	170
171	171	1. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND 19
172	172	ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST THAT IS NOT A M EMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; 20
173	173
174	174	2. A REPRESENTATIVE OF A NONPROFIT LAND 21
175	175	CONSERVATION ORGANIZ ATION IN THE STATE; 22
176	176
177	177	3. A REPRESENTATIVE OF A LOCAL PARKS AND 23
178	178	RECREATION DEPARTMEN T IN THE STATE; AND 24
179	179
180	180	4. AN INDIVIDUAL WITH EX PERIENCE IN LOAN 25
181	181	UNDERWRITING . 26
182	182
183	183	3–216. 27
184	184
185	185	(A) THERE IS A LOCAL LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN FUND. 28 HOUSE BILL 1031 5
186	186
187	187
188	188
189	189	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO FINANCE TH E LOCAL LAND TRUST 1
190	190	REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. 2
191	191
192	192	(C) THE MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST SHALL ADMINISTE R THE 3
193	193	FUND. 4
194	194
195	195	(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 5
196	196	SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 6
197	197
198	198	(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 7
199	199	AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 8
200	200
201	201	(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 9
202	202
203	203	(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 10
204	204
205	205	(2) INTEREST EARNINGS ; AND 11
206	206
207	207	(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 12
208	208	THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 13
209	209
210	210	(F) IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL 14
211	211	BUDGET BILL AN APPRO PRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE FUND. 15
212	212
213	213	(G) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL 16
214	214	LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. 17
215	215
216	216	(H) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND 18
217	217	IN THE SAME MANNER A S OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 19
218	218
219	219	(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO 20
220	220	THE FUND. 21
221	221
222	222	(I) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 22
223	223	WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 23
224	224
225	225	(J) MONEY EXPENDED FROM THE FUND FOR THE PROGRAM IS 24
226	226	SUPPLEMENTAL TO AND IS NOT INTENDED TO T AKE THE PLACE OF FUN DING THAT 25
227	227	OTHERWISE WOULD BE A PPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM. 26
228	228
229	229	5–104. 27
230	230	6 HOUSE BILL 1031
231	231
232	232
233	233	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
234	234	INDICATED. 2
235	235
236	236	(2) “CONSERVE” MEANS TO PERMAN ENTLY PROTECT LAND F ROM 3
237	237	DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PURCHASE, DONATION, A PERPETUAL CONSERVA TION OR 4
238	238	AN OPEN SPACE EASEMENT , OR FEE OWNERSHIP IN ORDER TO PRESERVE TH E 5
239	239	CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, ECOLOGICAL, OR AGRICULTURAL VALU E OF THE LAND. 6
240	240
241	241	(3) “SMART GROWTH SUBCABINET” MEANS THE SUBCABINET 7
242	242	ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1406 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 8
243	243
244	244	(B) (1) IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT : 9
245	245
246	246	(I) BY 2030, 30% OF LANDS IN THE STATE ARE CONSERVED ; 10
247	247	AND 11
248	248
249	249	(II) BY 2040, 40% OF LANDS IN THE STATE ARE CONSERVED . 12
250	250
251	251	(2) THE CONSERVATION GOAL S ESTABLISHED UNDER PA RAGRAPH 13
252	252	(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MULTIPLE EFFORTS 14
253	253	INCLUDING: 15
254	254
255	255	(I) WORKING WITH LOCAL CO MMUNITIES, COUNTIES, 16
256	256	MUNICIPALITIES , AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITIE S, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNE RS TO 17
257	257	CONSERVE NATURAL PLA CES AND RESOURCES ; 18
258	258
259	259	(II) IMPROVING ACCESS TO N ATURE FOR ALL INDIVI DUALS IN 19
260	260	THE STATE, INCLUDING COMMUNITIE S OF COLOR AND ECONO MICALLY 20
261	261	DISADVANTAGED COMMUN ITIES; 21
262	262
263	263	(III) SEQUESTERING CARBON A ND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISS IONS 22
264	264	IN THE LANDS AND WATERS OF THE STATE; 23
265	265
266	266	(IV) INCREASING PUBLIC INC ENTIVES FOR PRIVATE 24
267	267	LANDOWNERS TO VOLUNT ARILY CONSERVE AND P ROTECT AREAS OF 25
268	268	DEMONSTRATED CONSERV ATION VALUE AND AREAS THAT HAVE A HIGH CAP ACITY 26
269	269	TO SEQUESTER CARBON AND GREENHOUSE GAS E MISSIONS; 27
270	270
271	271	(V) FOCUSING CONSERVATION WORK AT A LARGE LANDSCAPE 28
272	272	SCALE THAT IS BIOLOG ICALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY MEA NINGFUL; 29
273	273
274	274	(VI) PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF NATIVE PLANT AND 30
275	275	ANIMAL SPECIES BY RE COVERING AND RESTORI NG THE SPECIES; 31 HOUSE BILL 1031 7
276	276
277	277
278	278
279	279	(VII) STABILIZING ECOSYSTEM S AND ECOSYSTEM SERV ICES, 1
280	280	RESTORING DEGRADED E COSYSTEMS, AND MAINTAINING ECOL OGICAL FUNCTIONS ; 2
281	281	AND 3
282	282
283	283	(VIII) INCREASING ECONOMIC O PPORTUNITIES FOR FAR MERS, 4
284	284	RANCHERS, FISHERS, AND FORESTERS . 5
285	285
286	286	(C) (1) IN ORDER TO MEET THE CONSERVATION GOALS ESTABLISHED 6
287	287	UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , THE SMART GROWTH SUBCABINET, IN 7
288	288	COORDINATION WITH RE LEVANT STAKEHOLDERS , SHALL: 8
289	289
290	290	(I) COORDINATE THE ACTION S OF STATE AGENCIES , LOCAL 9
291	291	GOVERNMENT S, AND NONGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS; 10
292	292
293	293	(II) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2023, DEVELOP AND PUBLISH A 11
294	294	PLAN TO MEET THE STATE’S CONSERVATION GOALS AND UPDATE AS NEEDED AND 12
295	295	NOT LESS THAN EVERY 5 YEARS THEREAFTER ; AND 13
296	296
297	297	(III) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2023, AND EACH DECEMBER 14
298	298	1 THEREAFTER , REPORT TO THE SENATE EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND 15
299	299	ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT AND 16
300	300	TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 17
301	301	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE STATE’S PROGRESS TOWARD ME ETING THE 18
302	302	CONSERVATION GOALS . 19
303	303
304	304	(2) THE SMART GROWTH SUBCABINET SHALL MAKE THE ANNUAL 20
305	305	REPORT REQUIRED UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1)(III) OF THIS SUBSECTION A VAILABLE ON 21
306	306	ITS WEBSITE. 22
307	307
308	308	5–307. 23
309	309
310	310	(b) There is a Mel Noland Woodland Incentives and Fellowship Fund in the 24
311	311	Department. 25
312	312
313	313	(f) (1) The Fund consists of: 26
314	314
315	315	(i) As provided in § 13–306 of the Tax – Property Article, up to 27
316	316	$200,000 annually of the proceeds of the tax imposed by § 13–302 of the Tax – Property 28
317	317	Article that are attributable to the taxation of instruments of writing that transfer title to 29
318	318	parcels of land that are entirely woodland; 30
319	319
320	320	(ii) Revenues collected by the Department from the payment of 31
321	321	charges imposed for Department assistance in implementation of an approved practice; 32 8 HOUSE BILL 1031
322	322
323	323
324	324
325	325	(iii) Money distributed from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal 1
326	326	Bays 2010 Trust Fund under § 8–2A–04 of this article; 2
327	327
328	328	(iv) Subject to approval by the Secretary and the Board of Public 3
329	329	Works, a portion of the revenues derived from the forestry practices on designated lands 4
330	330	owned and managed by the Department, that are conducted in accordance with applicable 5
331	331	State law and regulation; and 6
332	332
333	333	(v) Money appropriated to the Fund under paragraph (2) of this 7
334	334	subsection. 8
335	335
336	336	(2) (I) For fiscal [year] YEARS 2021 [and each fiscal year thereafter] 9
337	337	THROUGH 2023, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of 10
338	338	$50,000 to the Fund. 11
339	339
340	340	(II) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR 12
341	341	THEREAFTER , THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN 13
342	342	APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 TO THE FUND. 14
343	343
344	344	SUBTITLE 9D. GREENSPACE EQUITY PROGRAM. 15
345	345
346	346	5–9D–01. 16
347	347
348	348	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17
349	349	INDICATED. 18
350	350
351	351	(B) “BOARD” MEANS THE GREENSPACE EQUITY BOARD. 19
352	352
353	353	(C) (1) “COMMUNITY GREENSPACE” MEANS A COMMUNITY SPACE TH AT 20
354	354	ENHANCES THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND LIVABILIT Y OF A COMMUNITY . 21
355	355
356	356	(2) “COMMUNITY GREENSPACE ” INCLUDES: 22
357	357
358	358	(I) A COMMUNITY GARDEN ; 23
359	359
360	360	(II) A COMMUNITY GATHERING OPEN SPACE AREA ; 24
361	361
362	362	(III) A COMMUNITY WOODLAND ; 25
363	363
364	364	(IV) A GREEN NETWORK ; 26
365	365
366	366	(V) A PARK; 27
367	367	HOUSE BILL 1031 9
368	368
369	369
370	370	(VI) A TRAIL; AND 1
371	371
372	372	(VII) AN URBAN FARM . 2
373	373
374	374	(D) “ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ” MEANS: 3
375	375
376	376	(1) A LAND TRUST OR OTHER NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGA NIZATION 4
377	377	LOCATED OR WORKING I N AN UNDERSERVED ARE A WHERE A PROJECT IS PROPOSED 5
378	378	TO BE IMPLEMENTED ; OR 6
379	379
380	380	(2) A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALI TY. 7
381	381
382	382	(E) “GREEN NETWORK ” MEANS A SYSTEM OF GREENSPACES THAT ARE 8
383	383	INTERCONNECTED BY LI NEAR CORRIDORS THAT FACILITATE THE MOVEM ENT OF 9
384	384	PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE . 10
385	385
386	386	(F) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE GREENSPACE EQUITY PROGRAM. 11
387	387
388	388	(G) (1) “STEWARDSHIP ” MEANS ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKE N TO MAINTAIN 12
389	389	THE CONSERVATION VAL UES AND PUBLIC USE O F A PROPERTY. 13
390	390
391	391	(2) “STEWARDSHIP ” DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OPERATING EXPENS ES 14
392	392	OF A GRANT RECIPIENT . 15
393	393
394	394	(H) “UNDERSERVED AREA ” HAS THE MEANING INDI CATED IN § 8–1911 OF 16
395	395	THIS ARTICLE. 17
396	396
397	397	5–9D–02. 18
398	398
399	399	(A) THERE IS A GREENSPACE EQUITY PROGRAM. 19
400	400
401	401	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC H EALTH 20
402	402	AND LIVABILITY OF UN DERSERVED AREAS BY I MPLEMENTING PROJECTS TO 21
403	403	PRESERVE, CREATE, AND ENHANCE COMMUNIT Y GREENSPACE . 22
404	404
405	405	(C) (1) THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTER ED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 23
406	406
407	407	(2) IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 24
408	408
409	409	(I) DEVELOP AN APPLICATION FOR THE PROGRAM; 25
410	410
411	411	(II) PUBLICIZE THE PROGRAM; 26
412	412	10 HOUSE BILL 1031
413	413
414	414
415	415	(III) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASS ISTANCE TO PROGRAM 1
416	416	APPLICANTS; AND 2
417	417
418	418	(IV) RECOMMEND GRANT AWARD S TO THE BOARD. 3
419	419
420	420	(D) IN CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE ESTABLIS HED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF 4
421	421	THIS SECTION, THE BOARD SHALL: 5
422	422
423	423	(1) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE ADM INISTRATION OF THE 6
424	424	PROGRAM; AND 7
425	425
426	426	(2) APPROVE GRANT AWARDS . 8
427	427
428	428	(E) AN APPLICATION SUBMITTE D TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PROGRAM 9
429	429	SHALL INCLUDE EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL GOVER NMENT AND THE 10
430	430	UNDERSERVED COMMUNIT Y IN WHICH THE PROJE CT WILL BE LOCATED . 11
431	431
432	432	(F) (1) BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 12
433	433	MAKE GRANT S TO ELIGIBLE APPLIC ANTS FOR GREENSPACE EQUITY PROJECTS IN 13
434	434	UNDERSERVED AREAS . 14
435	435
436	436	(2) A GRANT RECEIVED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY BE USED FOR: 15
437	437
438	438	(I) LAND ACQUISITION , APPRAISALS, ENVIRONMENTAL 16
439	439	ASSESSMENTS , SITE DEVELOPMENT , AND OTHER EXPENSES A ND MATERIALS 17
440	440	RELATED TO PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING A P ROJECT, INCLUDING 18
441	441	DEVELOPMENT OR MAINT ENANCE OF THE SITE F OR PUBLIC USE; 19
442	442
443	443	(II) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT MORE THAN 20
444	444	3% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST, OR $15,000, WHICHEVER IS GREATER ; OR 21
445	445
446	446	(III) STEWARDSHIP OF A PROJ ECT THAT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED 22
447	447	A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM OR A PROJECT THAT WOULD QUALIFY F OR A GRANT 23
448	448	UNDER THE PROGRAM BUT EXISTED BEFORE JULY 1, 2023. 24
449	449
450	450	(3) IN AWARDING GRANTS UN DER THIS SUBSECTION , THE 25
451	451	DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS IDER: 26
452	452
453	453	(I) THE EXTENT TO WHICH T HE PROJECT ENGAGES A ND IS 27
454	454	SUPPORTED BY RESIDEN TS, ORGANIZATIONS , AND BUSINESSES LOCAT ED IN THE 28
455	455	UNDERSERVED AREA IN WHICH THE PROJECT WI LL BE LOCATED; 29
456	456	HOUSE BILL 1031 11
457	457
458	458
459	459	(II) THE AMOUNT OF FINANCI AL OR IN–KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 1
460	460	FOR IMPLEMENTATION O F THE PROJECT, IF APPLICABLE; AND 2
461	461
462	462	(III) THE DEGREE TO WHICH T HE PROJECT ENHANCES THE 3
463	463	PUBLIC HEALTH , LIVABILITY, AND COMMUNITY OPEN S PACE IN THE UNDERSER VED 4
464	464	AREA. 5
465	465
466	466	(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RESE RVE AT LEAST 50% OF THE 6
467	467	ANNUAL APPROPRIATION TO THE PROGRAM FOR GRANTS TO LOCAL LAND TRUSTS 7
468	468	AND OTHER NONGOVERNM ENTAL ORGANIZATIONS . 8
469	469
470	470	5–9D–03. 9
471	471
472	472	(A) THERE IS A GREENSPACE EQUITY BOARD IN THE DEPARTMENT . 10
473	473
474	474	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO ADMINISTER THE GREENSPACE 11
475	475	EQUITY PROGRAM. 12
476	476
477	477	(C) THE BOARD CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS : 13
478	478
479	479	(1) THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, OR THE SECRETARY’S 14
480	480	DESIGNEE; 15
481	481
482	482	(2) THE SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, OR THE 16
483	483	SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 17
484	484
485	485	(3) THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , 18
486	486	OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 19
487	487
488	488	(4) THE SECRETARY OF PLANNING, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 20
489	489	AND 21
490	490
491	491	(5) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WHO: 22
492	492
493	493	(I) HAVE EXPERIENCE IN PR OVIDING RECREATIONAL AND 23
494	494	GREENSPACE OPPORTUNI TIES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS; AND 24
495	495
496	496	(II) ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE. 25
497	497
498	498	(D) THE SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL SERVE AS CHAIR OF 26
499	499	THE BOARD. 27
500	500	12 HOUSE BILL 1031
501	501
502	502
503	503	(E) (1) THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SHALL PROVI DE 1
504	504	STAFF FOR THE BOARD. 2
505	505
506	506	(2) THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE , THE DEPARTMENT OF 3
507	507	HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING 4
508	508	MAY PROVIDE STAFF FO R THE BOARD. 5
509	509
510	510	5–9D–04. 6
511	511
512	512	THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL THE 7
513	513	FOLLOWING APPROPRIAT IONS TO THE PROGRAM: 8
514	514
515	515	(1) $3,000,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2024; AND 9
516	516
517	517	(2) $5,000,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR 10
518	518	THEREAFTER . 11
519	519
520	520	Article – State Finance and Procurement 12
521	521
522	522	6–226. 13
523	523
524	524	(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 14
525	525	inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 15
526	526	terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 16
527	527	State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 17
528	528	receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 18
529	529	Fund of the State. 19
530	530
531	531	(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 20
532	532	to the following funds: 21
533	533
534	534	144. the Health Equity Resource Community Reserve Fund; 22
535	535	[and] 23
536	536
537	537	145. the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund; AND 24
538	538
539	539	146. THE LOCAL LAND TRUST REVOLVING LOAN FUND. 25
540	540
541	541	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
542	542	October 1, 2022. 27