Ch. 6 LAWS OF MARYLAND

capacities of Maryland waterways[,] and development of comprehensive plans for
waterway improvements;

(7) To provide matching grants to local governments for the construction
of marine facilities for marine firefighting, marine [police] POLICE, or medical
services[,] and for the acquisition of vessels[,] and equipment for vessels for marine
firefighting, police, medical, and communication equipment for promoting safety of life
and property and general service to the boating public utilizing the waters of the State.
The ownership, operation, and maintenance of any equipment acquired under this
subtitle shall be the responsibility of the local governing body;

(8) Structural and nonstructural shore erosion control under subsection

(b) of this section;

(9) Acquisition of equipment and State vessels for firefighting, policing,
first aid and medical assistance, and communications[,] in order to promote safety of
life and property and general service to the boating public utilizing waters of the State;

(10) Boating information and education; and

(11) To provide interest-free loans to a governing body for the benefit of a
residential property owner, or group of residential property owners, with land abutting
a channel adjacent to a main channel or harbor, whose property has been included in a
waterway improvement district by the governing body, for dredging the adjacent
channel.

(b) Moneys from the Waterway Improvement Fund may be appropriated for
structural and nonstructural shore erosion control projects under Subtitle 10 of this
title, provided that the funds appropriated:

(1) In any fiscal year [may] DO not exceed 15 [percent] % of the total
excise tax revenues, exclusive of loan repayments, attained by the Waterway
Improvement Fund in the preceding fiscal year; and

8-708.

(a) Except as provided in § 8-708. 1 of this subtitle, projects for dredging and
marking channels and harbors, construction of jetties and breakwaters, and clearing
debris, aquatic vegetation, and obstructions in navigable waters, as well as construction
of marine facilities located within lands owned by the [State Department of Natural
Resources] DEPARTMENT and construction of pump-out stations for use by the
general boating public at public and private [marinas] MARINAS, shall be financed
solely by the Waterway Improvement Fund. Any funds available from the federal
government, any governing body, or any gift also may be used for these purposes.

(b) Except for the construction of pump-out stations for use by THE general
boating public at public and private marinas, the governing body and the Waterway
Improvement Fund jointly shall finance projects to construct marine facilities beneficial
to the boating public. The contribution of the Waterway Improvement Fund shall be
limited to not more than 50 [percent] % of the cost of each project. However, the
Waterway Improvement Fund may finance completely any construction project

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