HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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shall deduct the amount of the bill from the price to be
paid to the property owner and pay the bill amount over to
the commission. If by oversight or mistake, or for any
other reason, the bill for water and sewer usage charges has
not been paid when the acquisition is completed, then the
acquiring authority shall be responsible for the payment
thereof and shall pay the same to the commission upon
demand. As used in this subsection, the phrase "bill for
water and sewer usage charges" includes the commission's
usual late payment penalty if the same be applicable to the
bill involved.]

(C) (1) (I) IN THIS SUBSECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS
HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(II)  "ACQUIRING AUTHORITY" MEANS THIS
STATE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, OR ANY
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, COMMISSION, BOARD, OR AGENCY OF THIS
STATE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

(III)  "BILL FOR WATER AND SEWER USAGE
CHARGES" INCLUDES, IF APPLICABLE, THE LATE PAYMENT PENALTY
PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(4)(II) AND (III) OF THIS
SECTION.

(2)  BEFORE ACQUIRING PROPERTY IN THE SANITARY
DISTRICT, AN ACQUIRING AUTHORITY SHALL:

(I)  FIND OUT IF ANY BILL FOR WATER AND
SEWER USAGE CHARGES IS OUTSTANDING AGAINST THE PROPERTY; AND

(II)  REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF ANY
OUTSTANDING BILL FOR WATER OR SEWER CHARGES ON THE PROPERTY
BEFORE ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY.

(3)  IF THE PREVIOUS PROPERTY OWNER DOES NOT PAY
THE BILL FOR WATER AND SEWER USAGE CHARGES BEFORE AN
ACQUIRING AUTHORITY ACQUIRES THE PROPERTY, THE ACQUIRING
AUTHORITY SHALL:

(I)  DEDUCT THE AMOUNT OF THE BILL FROM THE
PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PROPERTY; AND

(II)  PAY THE AMOUNT OF THE BILL OVER TO
THE WSSC.

(4)  IF, BY OVERSIGHT, MISTAKE, OR ANY OTHER
REASON, THE BILL FOR WATER OR SEWER USAGE CHARGES IS NOT
PAID WHEN THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY IS COMPLETED, THE
ACQUIRING AUTHORITY:

(I)  IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL; AND

(II)  SHALL PAY THE BILL TO THE WSSC ON ITS
DEMAND.