488

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 234

ACCOUNTABILITY; AND

(6)         GENERAL PROGRAM AND MANAGEMENT

OPERATIONS.

(B)        THESE STANDARDS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE RULES

AND REGULATIONS, AND THE SECRETARY SHALL COMPLY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT, THE STATE DOCUMENTS LAW,
AND OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND
ADOPTION.

710. ESTABLISHMENT AND LOCATION OF CENTERS.

(A)          IF THE SECRETARY DETERMINES AND CERTIFIES THAT
THERE IS A PRESENT NEED FOR A CENTER IN A COUNTY OR
MULTICOUNTY REGION, THE COUNTY OR COUNTIES IN THE REGION
SHALL PROMPTLY INAUGURATE AND PURSUE APPROPRIATE
PROCEDURES TO SELECT A SUITABLE SITE FOR THE CENTER. THE
SECRETARY SHALL COOPERATE WITH AND ASSIST THE COUNTY OR
COUNTIES IN THE SELECTION OF A SITE WHICH WILL BE
CONSISTENT WITH THE STANDARDS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO §709.
BEFORE SELECTING A SITE, THE COUNTY GOVERNING BODY SHALL
HOLD AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH
ONE OR MORE SITES ARE PROPOSED.

(B)          EACH COUNTY IS AUTHORIZED TO ACQUIRE, BY
LEASE, PURCHASE, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING CONDEMNATION,
FACILITIES AND SITES FOR FACILITIES LOCATED IN THE
COUNTY, FOR USE AS A CENTER. THIS AUTHORITY INCLUDES THE
AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT AND RENOVATE FACILITIES ON SITES
ACQUIRED BY THE COUNTY. HOWEVER, THE COUNTY SHALL NOT
EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY GRANTED IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
SECRETARY HAS DETERMINED THAT:

(1)          THERE IS A NEED IN THE COUNTY FOR THE

CENTER;

(2)    THE PROPOSED SITE AND FACILITY ARE
APPROPRIATE; AND

(3)    THE FACILITY IS, OR UPON COMPLETION WILL
BE, CONSISTENT WITH THE STANDARDS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
§709. IF A COUNTY IS DIVIDED INTO COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS

OR CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, IT MAY,

BY ORDINANCE. PROVIDE THAT IT WILL NOT PLACE MORE THAN

ONE CENTER ACQUIRED BY IT UNDER THIS SUBSECTION (B) IN

A COUNCILMANIC OR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT UNLESS THERE IS
CENTER IN EACH COUNCILMANIC OR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT IN
THE COUNTY.

(C)    IF, WITHIN 18 MONTHS AFTER THE SECRETARY
CERTIFIES A NEED FOR A CENTER, THE COUNTY OR COUNTIES IN
A REGION FAIL TO SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY A PROPOSED SITE
AND PLANS FOR A FACILITY ON IT CONSISTENT WITH THE
STANDARDS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO §709, THE SECRETARY SHALL
DECLARE THE COUNTY OR COUNTIES IN DEFAULT. THE SECRETARY
MAY, FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN, EXTEND THIS TIME FOR NOT MORE