336

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 21

former reference to a "multicounty region" is
deleted since the appropriate recipient cannot be
identified.

In subsection (b)(3) of this section, reference
to "county" boards of education is substituted
for the reference to "local" boards, for clarity.

Defined terms: "County" § 1-101
"Director" § 7-101 "Group home" § 7-101

7-320. SITE SELECTION BY COUNTIES.

(A)  IN GENERAL.

(1)  IF THE DIRECTOR CERTIFIES THAT A PUBLIC
GROUP HOME IS NEEDED IN A COUNTY OR MULTICOUNTY REGION, THE
COUNTY OR THE COUNTIES IN THE REGION, IN CONSULTATION WITH
LOCAL CONSUMER GROUPS, PROMPTLY SHALL CHOOSE A SITE THAT
MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED
UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

(2)  BEFORE SUBMITTING A PROPOSED SITE TO THE
DIRECTOR, THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE COUNTY WHERE THE SITE
IS LOCATED SHALL HOLD AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING IN THAT
COUNTY.

(B)  COOPERATION OF DIRECTOR.

THE DIRECTOR SHALL COOPERATE WITH AND HELP THE COUNTY
OR COUNTIES TO CHOOSE A SUITABLE SITE.

(C)  DEFAULT BY COUNTY.

IF, WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DIRECTOR CERTIFIES A NEED
FOR A PUBLIC GROUP HOME, A SUITABLE SITE IS NOT SUBMITTED TO
THE DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR SHALL DECLARE THE COUNTY OR
COUNTIES TO BE IN DEFAULT. HOWEVER, FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN,
THE DIRECTOR MAY EXTEND THE 6-MONTH PERIOD FOR NOT MORE THAN
ANOTHER 3 MONTHS.

(D)  STATE ACTION ON DEFAULT.

WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER A DEFAULT BY A COUNTY OR
COUNTIES, THE DIRECTOR SHALL:

(1)  CHOOSE A SUITABLE SITE; AND

(2)  AFTER HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE COUNTY
WHERE THE SITE IS LOCATED, RECOMMEND THE SITE TO THE BOARD
OF PUBLIC WORKS.

REVISOR'S NOTE: Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d)(2)
of this section are new language derived without
substantive change from former Article 59A, §
19D(a), (c), and the first sentence of (d).