Ch. 362                          MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                               813

CHAPTER 362
(Senate Bill 118)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 12F of Article 14B of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume), title "State Boat
Act," amending the laws concerning the use of the State Waterways
Improvement Fund with particular reference to the improvement, reconstruction
or removal of bridges, drawbridges, or similar structures over or across
navigable waters, under certain circumstances, providing for the functions of the
Board of Public Works in relation thereto, [[and]] authorizing the Board of
Public Works to enter into an agreement with a private owner for a sharing of
the cost of such a project and authorizing expenditures from the Waterways
Improvement Fund for evaluation of boating needs and planning of waterway
improvements.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 12F of Article 14B of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume), title "State Boat Act," be and it is hereby
repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

12F.

(a)   All funds received into the Waterways Improvement Fund created by
Section 4E of this article shall be used, with the exception of the sum specified
under Section [[12G(b)]] 12H(B) herein for boating safety and education, solely
for the following projects.

(b)  Marking of channels and harbors not within the scope of operations of the
United States Coast Guard.

(c)   Clearing of debris, aquatic vegetation and obstructions from navigable
waters of the State.

(d)  Dredging of channels and harbors not within the scope of operations of the
United States Army Corps of Engineers.

(e)  Construction of marine facilities beneficial to the boating public.

(F) IMPROVEMENT, RECONSTRUCTION, OR REMOVAL OF
BRIDGES, DRAWBRIDGES, OR SIMILAR STRUCTURES OVER OR
ACROSS NAVIGABLE WATERS, IF THOSE STRUCTURES DELAY,
IMPEDE, OR OBSTRUCT THE BOATING PUBLIC. WITH THE
APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, FUNDS FROM
ANOTHER PUBLIC OR ANY PRIVATE SOURCE MAY BE RECEIVED
AND USED TO SUPPLEMENT AND INCREASE THE FUNDS IN THE
WATERWAYS IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS
SUBSECTION. ALSO, THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS MAY ENTER
INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY OR PERSON
WHICH OWNS SUCH A STRUCTURE, FOR THE IMPROVEMENT,
RECONSTRUCTION, OR REMOVAL OF THE STRUCTURE, IN ORDER
TO PROVIDE A SHARING OF THE COST OF THE IMPROVEMENT,
RECONSTRUCTION, OR REMOVAL.

(G) EVALUATION OF WATER-ORIENTED RECREATION NEEDS
AND RECREATIONAL CAPACITIES OF MARYLAND WATERWAYS,
AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS FOR WATERWAYS
IMPROVEMENTS.