WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 322

Department from making a grant to a museum that does not meet certain
requirements; and generally relating to museums in the State and the Historical
and Cultural Museum Assistance Program.

BY adding to

Article 83B - Department of Housing and Community Development

Section 5-701 through 5 703 5-705 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle 7.
Historical and Cultural Museum Assistance Program"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1988 Replacement Volume and 1989 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 83B - Department of Housing and Community Development

SUBTITLE 7. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MUSEUM ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM

5-701.

(A) IT IS HEREBY FOUND AND DECLARED BY THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY THAT:

(1) HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE MUSEUMS
PRESENT, INTERPRET, AND PRESERVE UNUSUAL AND SIGNIFICANT
OBJECTS OF THE STATE'S HERITAGE FOR THE BENEFIT, ENJOYMENT,
AND EDUCATION OF THE CITIZENS FROM EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE
STATE;

(2) HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE MUSEUMS ARE
UNIQUE AND BENEFICIAL RESOURCES WHICH SUPPLEMENT THE STATE'S
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM;

(3) THESE MUSEUMS ARE THE REPOSITORIES AND
CARETAKERS OF IRREPLACEABLE CULTURAL ITEMS FOR THE BENEFIT
NOT ONLY OF TODAY'S GENERATION, BUT OF THOSE YET TO COME;

(4) MUSEUMS, MANY OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN SMALL
COMMUNITIES, PLAY AN IMPORTANT AND COST EFFECTIVE ROLE IN THE
LEISURE TIME AND TOURISM INDUSTRY OF THE STATE; AND

(5) IT IS DESIRABLE THAT THE ENTIRE HISTORY AND
HERITAGE OF THE STATE BE DISPLAYED AND INTERPRETED TO THE
PUBLIC WHERE IT HAPPENED, CREATING CENTERS OF COMMUNITY
PRIDE AND DISPERSING TOURIST ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
SINCE IT IS NEITHER FEASIBLE NOR DESIRABLE TO TRY TO DISPLAY
THAT HERITAGE IN A SINGLE FACILITY AT ONE LOCATION.

(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEREFORE DECLARES THAT THE
PUBLIC INTEREST IS SERVED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM

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