LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 354
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Chapter 354
(Senate Bill 14)
AN ACT concerning
Sustainable Maryland Program and Fund – Establishment
FOR the purpose of establishing the Sustainable Maryland Program; establishing the
Sustainable Maryland Program Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to expand and
enhance Sustainable Maryland’s promotion and support of communities in Maryland
in the effort to realize environmental, economic, and social sustainability; requiring
interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; and generally relating to
the Sustainable Maryland Program and Fund.
BY adding to
Article – Education
Section 13–105
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – State Finance and Procurement
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – State Finance and Procurement
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)144. and 145.
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume)
BY adding to
Article – State Finance and Procurement
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)146.
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume)
Preamble
WHEREAS, Ensuring that Maryland communities are sustainable and
environmentally responsible, and use resources efficiently to ensure a prosperous future, is
of the utmost importance to our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Sustainable Maryland, a program of the Environmental Finance Center
at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus, supports the mission and priorities Ch. 354 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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of State agencies by coordinating access to the full suite of State programs and resources
that can support communities to enhance and expand local economies, infrastructure, and
stewardship; and
WHEREAS, Sustainable Maryland helps Maryland communities to choose a
direction for their greening efforts, complete their chosen actions with guidance from
program tools, trainings, and other resources, and gain recognition for their
accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Sustainable Maryland acts as an extension arm of the School of
Architecture, Planning, and Preservation; and
WHEREAS, Maryland’s Built Environment School serves the University of
Maryland’s land grant mission as a conduit for sharing and applying the research,
education, and technical resources of the University with communities throughout the
State; and
WHEREAS, Sustainable Maryland develops the next generation of leaders by
offering students paid and volunteer opportunities to apply their knowledge, research, and
skills to real–world local issues; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
13–105.
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “FUND” MEANS THE SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND
PROGRAM FUND.
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(2) “FUND” MEANS THE SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM FUND.
(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM.
(B) (1) THERE IS A SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM.
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE RESEARCH,
ACCESS TO RESOURCES , TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE , AND CERTIFICATION PR OGRAMS
FOR MUNICIPALITIES T O INCREASE SUSTAINAB ILITY, PROTECT ENVIRONMENTA L
WELL–BEING, AND ENSURE ECONO MIC VITALITY.
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 354
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(3) IN CARRYING OUT THE P OWERS AND DUTIES GRA NTED UNDER
THIS SECTION , THE PROGRAM SHALL WORK IN CONSULTATION AND
COLLABORATION WITH I NSTITUTIONS AND ORGA NIZATIONS IN THE STATE,
INCLUDING:
(I) THE ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND;
(II) THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE , PLANNING, AND
PRESERVATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND; AND
(III) THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
(B) (C) THERE IS A SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM FUND.
(C) (D) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE
SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND’S PROMOTION AND SUPP ORT OF COMMUNITIES I N THE
STATE IN THE EFFORT T O REALIZE ENVIRONMEN TAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL
SUSTAINABILITY .
(D) (E) THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE
CENTER SHALL ADMINIST ER THE FUND.
(E) (F) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE.
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY ,
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT F OR THE FUND.
(F) (G) THE FUND CONSISTS OF :
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND;
(2) INTEREST EARNINGS ; AND
(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND.
(G) (H) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR :
(1) OFFERING TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO ENSURE COMMUNITIES
ARE WELL INFORMED ON ADVANCES IN SUSTAINA BILITY SCIENCE, POLICY, AND
PRACTICE;
Ch. 354 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) OUTREACH AND ENGAGEME NT TO BUILD LOCAL CA PACITY AND
INSTITUTIONALIZE SUS TAINABILITY EFF ORTS WITHIN COMMUNIT IES, INCLUDING:
(I) AN ANNUAL SUSTAINABIL ITY CONFERENCE ;
(II) A PEER–TO–PEER LEARNING EXCHAN GE; AND
(III) SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND GREEN TEAM R OADSHOWS;
(3) DEVELOPING AND EXPAND ING THE SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND
PROGRAM;
(4) IMPROVING GREEN COMMU NITY CERTIFICATION T IERS WITH NEW
STRATEGIES AND ACTIO NS;
(5) PROVIDING ANNUAL COMM UNITY INNOVATION SMA LL GRANTS TO
HELP COMMUNITIES PIL OT NEW INNOVATIVE ST RATEGIES;
(6) RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY EFFORTS TOWARD ACHIE VING GREEN
CERTIFICATION; AND
(7) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENS ES RELATED TO THE SUSTAINABLE
MARYLAND PROGRAM .
(H) (I) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE
FUND IN THE SAME MANN ER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED.
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO
THE FUND.
(I) (J) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET .
(J) (K) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR THE SUSTAINABLE
MARYLAND PROGRAM IS S UPPLEMENTAL TO AND I S NOT INTENDED TO TA KE THE
PLACE OF FUNDING THAT OTHE RWISE WOULD BE APPRO PRIATED FOR THE
SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM .
(K) (L) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER ,
THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION
OF $750,000 $500,000 TO THE FUND.
Article – State Finance and Procurement
LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 354
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6–226.
(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General
Fund of the State.
(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply
to the following funds:
144. the Health Equity Resource Community Reserve Fund;
[and]
145. the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund; AND
146. THE SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND PROGRAM FUND.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2022.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2022.