1392                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 464

ING AUTHORITY, AND FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING
HELD IN THE AREA WHERE THE PROPOSED CENTER IS
TO BE LOCATED for the establishment and maintenance of
community correction centers for offenders sentenced by the courts
regardless of the length of the sentence; to authorize the Commis-
sioner of Correction to enter contracts with local government
authorities to provide pre-trial detention services; to authorize the
Commissioner , UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS to enter into
certain other types of contracts providing goods and services for
persons in his custody; and relating generally to facilities and pro-
visions for sentenced offenders and persons detained awaiting trial.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 706 be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume), title
"Crimes and Punishments," subtitle "Places of Reformation and
Punishment," to follow immediately after Section 705 thereof, and
to be under new subheading "Community Correction Centers," and
to read as follows:

706.

(a)   The Commissioner of Correction, with the approval of the
Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services AND WITH
THE APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITY,
AND FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN THE AREA
WHERE THE PROPOSED CENTER IS TO BE LOCATED
shall have the authority to acquire by lease or purchase any facility
for use as a community correction center at any location within the
State of Maryland for the purpose of housing and rehabilitating
offenders sentenced by the courts of the State of Maryland regardless
of the length of sentence imposed, and may enter into contracts to con-
struct or renovate and operate such centers; provided, however,
that funds for such purposes are appropriated in a budget bill or
supplementary appropriation bill. This authority shall include, but
shall not be limited to, the purchase of existing town, city or county
correctional facilities. The Commissioner shall have the same power,
authority, duties and functions concerning community correction cen-
ters as are conferred upon the Commissioner in this Article con-
cerning correctional and reformatory institutions.

(b)   The Commissioner, with the approval of the Secretary, shall
have the authority to contract with any town, city or county authori-
ties to provide pre-trial detention services to these jurisdictions sub-
ject to such compensation set by the Commissioner.

(c)   The Commissioner, with the approval of the Secretary AND
WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL GOVERNING AU-
THORITY, AND FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN
THE AREA WHERE THE PROPOSED CENTER IS TO BE LO-
CATED shall have the authority to contract with any town, city
or county authorities or private persons, firms, or organizations for
the purpose of furnishing food, housing, programs or transportation
to persons over whom the Commissioner has custody.

(D) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE LOCAL
GOVERNING AUTHORITY IS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUN-