WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 65

WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that participation in Maryland's
Agricultural Land Preservation Program is impacted by prices offered by developers for
farmland; and

WHEREAS, Certain counties have developed their own innovative programs
that seek to protect farmland; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that counties able to effectively
preserve farmland on the local level should be given the resources to do so out of
existing Foundation funds; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly reasserts its strong commitment to
preserving agricultural land in Maryland on a perpetual basis due to: (1) the positive
economic contribution of the agricultural industry; and (2) the important role of
farming in creating a quality environment; and

WHEREAS, The 1990 Maryland General Assembly sets forth in this Act a
comprehensive legislative proposal designed to enhance and strengthen Maryland's
agricultural preservation efforts, consistent with and responsive to the findings of the
Joint Subcommittee; now, therefore,

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

Article - State Finance and Procurement

5-408.

(A) THERE IS WITHIN THE OFFICE A PROGRAM FOR
CERTIFICATION OF EFFECTIVE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL LAND
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS.

(B) A COUNTY MAY APPLY TO THE OFFICE AND THE MARYLAND
AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION FOR
CERTIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION ONLY IF THE COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THE
GOVERNING BODY OF THE COUNTY BOTH:

(1) APPROVE THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL AS BEING AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO AGRICULTURAL LAND
PRESERVATION; AND

(2) APPROVE THE COUNTY'S APPLICATION FOR
CERTIFICATION.

(C) (1) A COUNTY MAY APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION UNDER THIS
SECTION IF THE COUNTY HAS ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE
PARTICIPATION OF FARMERS IN AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION
EFFORTS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, INCLUDING PURCHASE OF
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OR FINANCIAL ENHANCEMENTS RELATED TO
PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, OUTSIDE OF THE STATE

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