HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2085

Article - Natural Resources

8-9A-03.

(h) There is a comprehensive flood management grant program
within the Department of Natural Resources.

(1)  Subject to the approval of the Board of Public
Works, the Department may use proceeds from the State debt
created to fund the comprehensive flood management grant program
to pay the entire cost of watershed studies pursuant to
subsection (b). The Department may provide grants to
subdivisions to pay the entire cost of watershed studies when the
Department delegates that responsibility pursuant to subsection
(b).

(2)  Subject to the approval of the Board of Public
Works the Department may provide grants to subdivisions for flood
control and watershed management capital projects, AND FOR THE
CAPITAL COSTS RELATED TO DESIGN, PURCHASE, AND INSTALLATION OF
AUTOMATED FLOOD WARNING PROJECTS, provided that the projects are
consistent with the plans and implementation prepared and adopted
in accordance with this subtitle, and provided further that each
[flood control and watershed management capital] project:

(i) Is undertaken as part of a comprehensive
flood management plan prepared and adopted by the subdivision;
and

(ii) Is not inconsistent with any State or
interjurisdictional flood management plan.

(3)  GRANTS FOR AUTOMATED FLOOD WARNINGS PROJECTS
SHALL BE CONDITIONED TO REQUIRE ALL AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNING
BODIES TO:

(I)  ADOPT A SPECIFIC AND COMPATIBLE RESPONSE
PLAN WHICH HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AUTHORITIES AND REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
MARYLAND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY; AND

(II)  PROVIDE FOR FINANCIAL AND OTHER
COMMITMENTS TO PROPERLY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROJECT.

[(3)] (4) The amount of any grant made by the
Department for a flood control and watershed management capital
project shall be matched by a minimum amount of 50 percent of
local funds. The Department may provide up to 50 percent of the
nonfederal share of the funding for a flood control and watershed
management capital project which meets the criteria of this
subtitle.

[(4)] (5) To receive a grant, the subdivision must
participate in the national flood insurance program.