MD
Maryland House Bill HB695

Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB695 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 439
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 439
5-(House Bill 695)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ *hb0695*
89
9-Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund – Revisions and Sunset Repeal
10-Allocation of Grants
11-(Rural Communities Improvement Act of 2023)
10+HOUSE BILL 695
11+C8 3lr2126
1212
13-FOR the purpose of altering certain allocations of disbursements from the Rural Maryland
14-Prosperity Investment Fund; authorizing the allocation of grants from the Rural
15-Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund for certain business and workforce
16-development activities; requiring the Executive Committee of the Executive Board
17-for the Rural Maryland Council to agree to a reallocation of funds between grant
18-categories before the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development
19-Assistance Board may reallocate the funds; requiring the Governor, beginning in a
20-certain fiscal year, to appropriate a certain amount of money to the Fund annually;
21-repealing the termination date of certain provisions of law establishing the Fund;
22-and generally relating to the Rural Maryland Prosperity Fund.
13+By: Delegates Sample–Hughes and Adams
14+Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2023
15+Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
16+Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17+House action: Adopted
18+Read second time: March 11, 2023
2319
24-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
25- Article – State Finance and Procurement
26-Section 2–207
27- Annotated Code of Maryland
28- (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement)
20+CHAPTER ______
2921
30-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
31-Chapter 621 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2006, as amended by Chapters
32-469 and 470 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2014
33- Section 2
22+AN ACT concerning 1
3423
35- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAN D,
36-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
24+Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund – Revisions and Sunset Repeal 2
25+Allocation of Grants 3
26+(Rural Communities Improvement Act of 2023) 4
3727
38-Article – State Finance and Procurement
28+FOR the purpose of altering certain allocations of disbursements from the Rural Maryland 5
29+Prosperity Investment Fund; authorizing the allocation of grants from the Rural 6
30+Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund for certain business and workforce 7
31+development activities; requiring the Executive Committee of the Executive Board 8
32+for the Rural Maryland Council to agree to a reallocation of funds between grant 9
33+categories before the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development 10
34+Assistance Board may reallocate the funds; requiring the Governor, beginning in a 11
35+certain fiscal year, to appropriate a certain amount of money to the Fund annually; 12
36+repealing the termination date of certain provisions of law establishing the Fund; 13
37+and generally relating to the Rural Maryland Prosperity Fund. 14
3938
40-2–207.
39+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
40+ Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
41+Section 2–207 17
42+ Annotated Code of Maryland 18
43+ (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 19
4144
42- (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
45+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
46+Chapter 621 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2006, as amended by Chapters 21
47+469 and 470 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2014 22
48+ Section 2 23 2 HOUSE BILL 695
4349
44- (2) “Agriculture” means the commercial production, storage, processing,
45-marketing, distribution, or export of an agronomic, aquacultural, equine, floricultural,
46-horticultural, ornamental, silvicultural, or viticultural crop, including:
4750
48- (i) farm products;
49- Ch. 439 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
5051
51-– 2 –
52- (ii) livestock and livestock products;
52+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
53+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
5354
54- (iii) poultry and poultry products;
55+Article – State Finance and Procurement 3
5556
56- (iv) milk and dairy products;
57+2–207. 4
5758
58- (v) timber and forest products;
59+ (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
5960
60- (vi) fruit and horticultural products; and
61+ (2) “Agriculture” means the commercial production, storage, processing, 6
62+marketing, distribution, or export of an agronomic, aquacultural, equine, floricultural, 7
63+horticultural, ornamental, silvicultural, or viticultural crop, including: 8
6164
62- (vii) seafood and aquacultural products.
65+ (i) farm products; 9
6366
64- (3) “Board” means the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural
65-Development Assistance Board established under § 2–206(e) of this subtitle.
67+ (ii) livestock and livestock products; 10
6668
67- (4) “COOPERATIVE DEVELOPME NT” MEANS ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT
68-THE CREATION OR GROW TH OF A BUSINESS COO PERATIVE, INCLUDING SUPPORT
69-FOR:
69+ (iii) poultry and poultry products; 11
7070
71- (I) BUSINESS FEASIBILITY STUDIES;
71+ (iv) milk and dairy products; 12
7272
73- (II) INDUSTRY STUDIES ;
73+ (v) timber and forest products; 13
7474
75- (III) MARKET STUDIES ;
75+ (vi) fruit and horticultural products; and 14
7676
77- (IV) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BUSINESS ENTITIES ; AND
77+ (vii) seafood and aquacultural products. 15
7878
79- (V) ADMINISTRATION OF TH E BUSINESS COOPERATI VE.
79+ (3) “Board” means the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural 16
80+Development Assistance Board established under § 2–206(e) of this subtitle. 17
8081
81- [(4)] (5) “Council” means the Rural Maryland Council established under
82-Title 13, Subtitle 4 of the Economic Development Article.
82+ (4) “COOPERATIVE DEVELOPME NT” MEANS ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT 18
83+THE CREATION OR GROW TH OF A BUSINESS COO PERATIVE, INCLUDING SUPPORT 19
84+FOR: 20
8385
84- (6) “EXECUTIVE BOARD” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
85-ESTABLISHED UNDER § 13–407 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE FOR
86-THE COUNCIL.
86+ (I) BUSINESS FEASIBILITY STUDIES; 21
8787
88- (7) “EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
89-OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, AS ESTABLISHED IN TH E BYLAWS OF THE COUNCIL.
88+ (II) INDUSTRY STUDIES; 22
9089
91- [(5)] (8) (6) “Fund” means the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund
92-established under this section.
90+ (III) MARKET STUDIES ; 23
9391
94- [(6)] (9) (7) “Regional councils” means:
92+ (IV) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BUSINESS ENTITIES ; AND 24
9593
96- (i) the Mid–Shore Regional Council; WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 439
94+ (V) ADMINISTRATION OF TH E BUSINESS COOPERATI VE. 25
95+ HOUSE BILL 695 3
9796
98-– 3 –
9997
100- (ii) the Tri–County Council for the Lower Eastern S hore of
101-Maryland;
98+ [(4)] (5) “Council” means the Rural Maryland Council established under 1
99+Title 13, Subtitle 4 of the Economic Development Article. 2
102100
103- (iii) the Tri–County Council for Southern Maryland;
101+ (6) “EXECUTIVE BOARD” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 3
102+ESTABLISHED UNDER § 13–407 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE FOR 4
103+THE COUNCIL. 5
104104
105- (iv) the Tri–County Council for Western Maryland; and
105+ (7) “EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE” MEANS THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 6
106+OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, AS ESTABLISHED IN TH E BYLAWS OF THE COUNCIL. 7
106107
107- (v) the Upper Shore Regional Council.
108+ [(5)] (8) (6) “Fund” means the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund 8
109+established under this section. 9
108110
109- [(7)] (10) (8) “Rural area” means:
111+ [(6)] (9) (7) “Regional councils” means: 10
110112
111- (i) the following counties:
113+ (i) the Mid–Shore Regional Council; 11
112114
113- 1. Allegany;
115+ (ii) the Tri–County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of 12
116+Maryland; 13
114117
115- 2. Calvert;
118+ (iii) the Tri–County Council for Southern Maryland; 14
116119
117- 3. Caroline;
120+ (iv) the Tri–County Council for Western Maryland; and 15
118121
119- 4. Carroll;
122+ (v) the Upper Shore Regional Council. 16
120123
121- 5. Cecil;
124+ [(7)] (10) (8) “Rural area” means: 17
122125
123- 6. Charles;
126+ (i) the following counties: 18
124127
125- 7. Dorchester;
128+ 1. Allegany; 19
126129
127- 8. Frederick;
130+ 2. Calvert; 20
128131
129- 9. Garrett;
132+ 3. Caroline; 21
130133
131- 10. Harford;
134+ 4. Carroll; 22
132135
133- 11. Kent;
136+ 5. Cecil; 23
134137
135- 12. Queen Anne’s;
138+ 6. Charles; 24
136139
137- 13. St. Mary’s;
140+ 7. Dorchester; 25
138141
139- 14. Somerset;
142+ 8. Frederick; 26
143+ 4 HOUSE BILL 695
140144
141- 15. Talbot;
142145
143- 16. Washington;
144- Ch. 439 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
146+ 9. Garrett; 1
145147
146-– 4 –
147- 17. Wicomico; and
148+ 10. Harford; 2
148149
149- 18. Worcester; and
150+ 11. Kent; 3
150151
151- (ii) portions of other counties in close proximity to agricultural
152-activity.
152+ 12. Queen Anne’s; 4
153153
154- [(8)] (11) (9) “Rural community” means an incorporated or unincorporated
155-area of a county or group of counties in a rural area.
154+ 13. St. Mary’s; 5
156155
157- (12) (10) “WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ” MEANS ACTIVITIES TO :
156+ 14. Somerset; 6
158157
159- (I) ASSIST WORKERS WITH OBTAINING TRAINING I N THE
160-NECESSARY SKILLS REQ UIRED BY LOCAL EMPLO YERS; AND
158+ 15. Talbot; 7
161159
162- (II) ASSIST COMMUNITY COL LEGES, CAREER AND TECHNICAL
163-EDUCATION CENTERS , LOCAL WORKFORCE BOAR DS, AND SIMILAR ORGANIZA TIONS
164-WITH EFFORTS TO PROV IDE TRAINING PROGRAM S CONSISTENT WITH IT EM (I) OF
165-THIS PARAGRAPH .
160+ 16. Washington; 8
166161
167- (b) The General Assembly finds that:
162+ 17. Wicomico; and 9
168163
169- (1) many rural communities in the State face a host of difficult challenges
170-relating to persistent unemployment and poverty, changing technological and economic
171-conditions, an aging population and an out–migration of youth, inadequate access to quality
172-housing, health care and other services, and deteriorating or inadequate transportation,
173-communications, sanitation, and economic development infrastructure;
164+ 18. Worcester; and 10
174165
175- (2) Maryland’s agricultural and resource–based industries continue to
176-underpin the local economies of rural communities but are increasingly under threat from
177-national and international market competition, urban encroachment and land development
178-pressure, and environmental and regulatory influences;
166+ (ii) portions of other counties in close proximity to agricultural 11
167+activity. 12
179168
180- (3) local governments, regional organizations, educational institutions,
181-and private sector service providers have been unable to meet all the economic
182-development, community development, health care, and human services needs of Maryland
183-residents in the rural counties and municipal corporations because of a lack of adequate
184-available capacity and resources;
169+ [(8)] (11) (9) “Rural community” means an incorporated or unincorporated 13
170+area of a county or group of counties in a rural area. 14
185171
186- (4) the objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund is to
187-help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds
188-statewide benchmark averages [by 2030,] while preserving the best aspects of a pastoral
189-heritage and rural way of life;
190- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 439
172+ (12) (10) “WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ” MEANS ACTIVITIES TO : 15
191173
192-– 5 –
193- (5) resources provided to the Fund are designed to facilitate significant
194-targeted investments in important economic, health care, and community development
195-programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation;
174+ (I) ASSIST WORKERS WITH OBTAINING TRAINING I N THE 16
175+NECESSARY SKILLS REQ UIRED BY LOCAL EMPLO YERS; AND 17
196176
197- (6) these investments will also enable local and regional public and
198-nonprofit organizations to leverage additional nonstate financial and human resources to
199-facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives while the program is
200-in effect; and
177+ (II) ASSIST COMMUNITY COL LEGES, CAREER AND TECHNICAL 18
178+EDUCATION CENTERS , LOCAL WORKFORCE BOAR DS, AND SIMILAR ORGANIZA TIONS 19
179+WITH EFFORTS TO PROV IDE TRAINING PROGRAM S CONSISTENT WITH IT EM (I) OF 20
180+THIS PARAGRAPH . 21
201181
202- (7) the Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by:
182+ (b) The General Assembly finds that: 22
203183
204- (i) encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and
205-commerce and a balanced economy in the State;
184+ (1) many rural communities in the State face a host of difficult challenges 23
185+relating to persistent unemployment and poverty, changing technological and economic 24
186+conditions, an aging population and an out–migration of youth, inadequate access to quality 25
187+housing, health care and other services, and deteriorating or inadequate transportation, 26
188+communications, sanitation, and economic development infrastructure; 27
206189
207- (ii) relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in
208-rural areas;
190+ (2) Maryland’s agricultural and resource–based industries continue to 28
191+underpin the local economies of rural communities but are increasingly under threat from 29 HOUSE BILL 695 5
209192
210- (iii) assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for
211-productive use by present and future generations;
212193
213- (iv) promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public
214-sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas;
194+national and international market competition, urban encroachment and land development 1
195+pressure, and environmental and regulatory influences; 2
215196
216- (v) enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water,
217-wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas;
197+ (3) local governments, regional organizations, educational institutions, 3
198+and private sector service providers have been unable to meet all the economic 4
199+development, community development, health care, and human services needs of Maryland 5
200+residents in the rural counties and municipal corporations because of a lack of adequate 6
201+available capacity and resources; 7
218202
219- (vi) supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and
220-community revitalization efforts; and
203+ (4) the objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund is to 8
204+help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds 9
205+statewide benchmark averages [by 2030,] while preserving the best aspects of a pastoral 10
206+heritage and rural way of life; 11
221207
222- (vii) generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment
223-opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and
224-municipal corporations of the State.
208+ (5) resources provided to the Fund are designed to facilitate significant 12
209+targeted investments in important economic, health care, and community development 13
210+programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation; 14
225211
226- (c) (1) There is a Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund.
212+ (6) these investments will also enable local and regional public and 15
213+nonprofit organizations to leverage additional nonstate financial and human resources to 16
214+facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives while the program is 17
215+in effect; and 18
227216
228- (2) The Fund is administered by the Rural Maryland Council with the
229-assistance of the Board.
217+ (7) the Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by: 19
230218
231- (3) The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding to rural regional and
232-statewide planning and development organizations, institutions of higher education
233-serving rural communities, rural community development organizations, and local
234-governments acting in partnership with one another to promote the quality of life in rural
235-areas.
236- Ch. 439 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
219+ (i) encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and 20
220+commerce and a balanced economy in the State; 21
237221
238-– 6 –
239- (d) (1) Each year, beginning in fiscal year 2008 and continuing through fiscal
240-year [2030] 2024, the Governor may include an appropriation in the budget bill for the
241-Fund.
222+ (ii) relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in 22
223+rural areas; 23
242224
243- (2) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER ,
244-THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION
245-OF AT LEAST $1,000,000 TO THE FUND, TO BE USED FOR THE D ISBURSEMENTS
246-REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (F)(2) OF THIS SECTION.
225+ (iii) assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for 24
226+productive use by present and future generations; 25
247227
248- (e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to reversion
249-under § 7–302 of this article.
228+ (iv) promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public 26
229+sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas; 27
250230
251- (2) The Treasurer shall separately hold and the Comptroller shall account
252-for the Fund.
231+ (v) enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water, 28
232+wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas; 29
253233
254- (3) The Treasurer may invest money in the Fund in the same manner as
255-other State money may be invested.
234+ (vi) supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and 30
235+community revitalization efforts; and 31
256236
257- (f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, disbursements
258-of money appropriated to the Fund shall be allocated in the following manner:
237+ (vii) generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment 32
238+opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and 33
239+municipal corporations of the State. 34
240+ 6 HOUSE BILL 695
259241
260- (i) one–third shall be allocated equally to the five regional councils
261-as grants for rural regional planning and development assistance, by targeting support to
262-the[:
263242
264- 1.] regional councils serving rural areas; and
243+ (c) (1) There is a Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund. 1
265244
266- [2. multicounty efforts serving rural communities in areas not
267-served by the regional councils; and]
245+ (2) The Fund is administered by the Rural Maryland Council with the 2
246+assistance of the Board. 3
268247
269- (ii) the remaining two–thirds shall be allocated equally as grants
270-among the following categories:
248+ (3) The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding to rural regional and 4
249+statewide planning and development organizations, institutions of higher education 5
250+serving rural communities, rural community development organizations, and local 6
251+governments acting in partnership with one another to promote the quality of life in rural 7
252+areas. 8
271253
272- 1. regional infrastructure projects that directly involve two
273-or more units of local government, not to exceed one–fourth of the total cost of any
274-particular project;
254+ (d) (1) Each year, beginning in fiscal year 2008 and continuing through fiscal 9
255+year [2030] 2024, the Governor may include an appropriation in the budget bill for the 10
256+Fund. 11
275257
276- 2. rural entrepreneurship AND AGRICULTURAL
277-development, including:
258+ (2) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , 12
259+THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION 13
260+OF AT LEAST $1,000,000 TO THE FUND, TO BE USED FOR THE D ISBURSEMENTS 14
261+REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (F)(2) OF THIS SECTION. 15
278262
279- A. programs and activities serving rural communities
280-undertaken by nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education;
263+ (e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to reversion 16
264+under § 7–302 of this article. 17
281265
282- B. COOPERATIVE DEVELOPM ENT; AND
283- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 439
266+ (2) The Treasurer shall separately hold and the Comptroller shall account 18
267+for the Fund. 19
284268
285-– 7 –
286- C. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMEN T;
269+ (3) The Treasurer may invest money in the Fund in the same manner as 20
270+other State money may be invested. 21
287271
288- 3. rural community development, programmatic assistance,
289-and education, with money to be divided equally between the Council and the Maryland
290-Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund; and
272+ (f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, disbursements 22
273+of money appropriated to the Fund shall be allocated in the following manner: 23
291274
292- 4. rural health care organizations.
275+ (i) one–third shall be allocated equally to the five regional councils 24
276+as grants for rural regional planning and development assistance, by targeting support to 25
277+the[: 26
293278
294- (2) If in any fiscal year revenues appropriated to the Fund are insufficient
295-to fully fund all grants under paragraph (1) of this subsection, disbursements of money
296-appropriated to the Fund shall be allocated as follows:
279+ 1.] regional councils serving rural areas; and 27
297280
298- (i) [$500,000] $1,000,000 shall be allocated to the Council, of
299-which:
281+ [2. multicounty efforts serving rural communities in areas not 28
282+served by the regional councils; and] 29
300283
301- 1. [$250,000] $750,000 shall be used to support the
302-operations of the Council; and
284+ (ii) the remaining two–thirds shall be allocated equally as grants 30
285+among the following categories: 31
286+ HOUSE BILL 695 7
303287
304- 2. $250,000 shall be allocated to the Maryland Agricultural
305-Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund established under § 2–206 of this
306-subtitle; and
307288
308- (ii) the remaining disbursements of money appropriated to the Fund
309-shall be allocated in the manner described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
289+ 1. regional infrastructure projects that directly involve two 1
290+or more units of local government, not to exceed one–fourth of the total cost of any 2
291+particular project; 3
310292
311- (g) (1) Any money received by a regional council under subsection (f)(1)(i) of
312-this section shall be used to benefit rural areas as the regional council determines.
293+ 2. rural entrepreneurship AND AGRICULTURAL 4
294+development, including: 5
313295
314- (2) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Board shall
315-award grants from the Fund under subsection (f)(1)(ii) of this section on a competitive basis
316-in accordance with the procedures in § 2–206(e) of this subtitle.
296+ A. programs and activities serving rural communities 6
297+undertaken by nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education; 7
317298
318- (ii) Any money received by the Council under subsection (f)(1)(ii) of
319-this section shall be used to help administer the Fund and perform other functions that
320-benefit rural areas as the Council determines.
299+ B. COOPERATIVE DEVELOPM ENT; AND 8
321300
322- (3) A grant recipient shall submit to the Council written documentation of
323-how the grant recipient spent or otherwise used the grant.
301+ C. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMEN T; 9
324302
325- (h) The Board may reallocate money from one category listed in subsection
326-(f)(1)(ii) of this section to another category only if:
303+ 3. rural community development, programmatic assistance, 10
304+and education, with money to be divided equally between the Council and the Maryland 11
305+Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund; and 12
327306
328- (1) there is a lack of sufficient applications requesting use of money in a
329-particular category; AND
330- Ch. 439 2023 LAWS OF MARYLAND
307+ 4. rural health care organizations. 13
331308
332-– 8 –
333- (2) THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONCURS WIT H THE
334-REALLOCATION .
309+ (2) If in any fiscal year revenues appropriated to the Fund are insufficient 14
310+to fully fund all grants under paragraph (1) of this subsection, disbursements of money 15
311+appropriated to the Fund shall be allocated as follows: 16
335312
336- (i) (1) On or before October 1 of each year, the Council shall submit a report
337-to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the
338-General Assembly.
313+ (i) [$500,000] $1,000,000 shall be allocated to the Council, of 17
314+which: 18
339315
340- (2) The report shall summarize the activities of the Fund during the
341-preceding fiscal year, including:
316+ 1. [$250,000] $750,000 shall be used to support the 19
317+operations of the Council; and 20
342318
343- (i) the number of grants made during the fiscal year;
319+ 2. $250,000 shall be allocated to the Maryland Agricultural 21
320+Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund established under § 2–206 of this 22
321+subtitle; and 23
344322
345- (ii) the names of the recipients of the grants;
323+ (ii) the remaining disbursements of money appropriated to the Fund 24
324+shall be allocated in the manner described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. 25
346325
347- (iii) the specific purpose of each grant awarded; and
326+ (g) (1) Any money received by a regional council under subsection (f)(1)(i) of 26
327+this section shall be used to benefit rural areas as the regional council determines. 27
348328
349- (iv) documentation of how the grant recipient spent or otherwise
350-used the grant.
329+ (2) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Board shall 28
330+award grants from the Fund under subsection (f)(1)(ii) of this section on a competitive basis 29
331+in accordance with the procedures in § 2–206(e) of this subtitle. 30
332+ 8 HOUSE BILL 695
351333
352-Chapter 621 of the Acts of 2006, as amended by Chapters 469 and 470 of the Acts
353-of 2014
354334
355- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
356-1, 2006. [It shall remain effective for a period of 24 years and, at the end of June 30, 2030,
357-with no further action required by the General Assembly, this Act shall be abrogated and
358-of no further force and effect.]
335+ (ii) Any money received by the Council under subsection (f)(1)(ii) of 1
336+this section shall be used to help administer the Fund and perform other functions that 2
337+benefit rural areas as the Council determines. 3
359338
360- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
361-October 1, 2023.
339+ (3) A grant recipient shall submit to the Council written documentation of 4
340+how the grant recipient spent or otherwise used the grant. 5
362341
363-Approved by the Governor, May 8, 2023.
342+ (h) The Board may reallocate money from one category listed in subsection 6
343+(f)(1)(ii) of this section to another category only if: 7
344+
345+ (1) there is a lack of sufficient applications requesting use of money in a 8
346+particular category; AND 9
347+
348+ (2) THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONCURS WIT H THE 10
349+REALLOCATION . 11
350+
351+ (i) (1) On or before October 1 of each year, the Council shall submit a report 12
352+to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the 13
353+General Assembly. 14
354+
355+ (2) The report shall summarize the activities of the Fund during the 15
356+preceding fiscal year, including: 16
357+
358+ (i) the number of grants made during the fiscal year; 17
359+
360+ (ii) the names of the recipients of the grants; 18
361+
362+ (iii) the specific purpose of each grant awarded; and 19
363+
364+ (iv) documentation of how the grant recipient spent or otherwise 20
365+used the grant. 21
366+
367+Chapter 621 of the Acts of 2006, as amended by Chapters 469 and 470 of the Acts 22
368+of 2014 23
369+
370+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 24
371+1, 2006. [It shall remain effective for a period of 24 years and, at the end of June 30, 2030, 25
372+with no further action required by the General Assembly, this Act shall be abrogated and 26
373+of no further force and effect.] 27
374+
375+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
376+October 1, 2023. 29
377+