1680                               Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 770

determined by the State Department of Education to be necessary
for the operational budgets of the regional cooperative service pro-

gram.

(7)    THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY
INCLUDE IN ITS ANNUAL BUDGET AN AMOUNT IT DETER-
MINES TO BE NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATING COSTS
OF THE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS. NOTWITHSTAND-
ING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 124 OF THIS ARTICLE
SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE PROVIDED FOR SUCH OPERATING
COSTS OF THE REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO THE ANNUAL REVIEW AND APPROPRIATION
BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(8)    Expenditures SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUB-
SECTION (9), EXPENDITURES for capital improvements of
existing facilities, additions to existing facilities, or new facilities sep-
arate from existing facilities of participating libraries and/or equip-
ment and furniture for capital improvements necessary for and to be
used by regional resource centers shall be totally financed by the
State. Prior to the receipt of any funds for any capital improve-
ments necessary for and to be used by regional resource centers, the
library designated as a regional resource center must have the plan
and justification for expansion approved by the State Department of
Education and agree that the facility may by used for regional
resource center purposes for no less than twenty (20) years. THAT
SHOULD THE USE OF SUCH STATE FINANCED FACILITY
BE CHANGED FROM REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER PUR-
POSES THE LOCAL SUBDIVISION SHALL REIMBURSE THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR SUCH FACILITY
AN AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED BY THE STATE DE-
PARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

(9)    The State Department of Education may include in its
budget request such sum or sums as may in its judgment be required
for capital expenditures for improvements of existing facilities, addi-
tions to existing facilities or new facilities including furniture and/or
equipment to provide for the regional resource centers financed by
the State in this Section. These capital funds may be appropriated
in advance of expenditure and may be paid according to procedures
established by the State Superintendent of Schools. NOTWITH-
STANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 124 OF THIS
ARTICLE SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE PROVIDED FOR CAPITAL
EXPENDITURES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE ANNUAL REVIEW AND APPRO-
PRIATION BY THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL AS-
SEMBLY.

(b) Metropolitan Cooperative Services Programs.

(1)    Any COUNTY public library system located within the stand-
ard metropolitan statistical areas in Maryland as defined by the
United States Bureau of the Census and any other COUNTY library
systems NOT INCLUDED IN A REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTER
which choose to be included may participate in a metropolitan coop-
erative services program.

(2)    Metropolitan cooperative services programs shall conform to
standards and criteria established by rule of the State Board of
Education for regional cooperative services programs.