2718

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 547

(2)  DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
THE GOVERNOR, APPROPRIATE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ENTITLED TO VOTING REPRESENTATION ON THE
COMMISSION, OTHER AFFECTED LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, AND APPROPRIATE
UNITS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT, FOR THEIR INFORMATION AND
COMMENTS; AND

(3)  CONDUCT AT LEAST 1 PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.

(C)  AFTER A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN HAS BEEN ACTED
ON BY THE COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT MAY PRESENT THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE GOVERNING BODIES OF THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS
ENTITLED TO VOTING REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION, FOR THEIR
APPROVAL, BY RESOLUTION. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INCLUDE ANY
COMMENTS MADE BY THE COMMISSION.

(D)  (1) IF THE GOVERNING BODIES OF 5 OF THE 7 LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS ENTITLED TO VOTING REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION
APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PRESENT THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
INCLUDE ANY COMMENTS MADE BY THE COMMISSION OR BY THE GOVERNING
BODIES.

(2) IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY JOINT RESOLUTION,
APPROVES THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
AMENDMENT IS IMMEDIATE, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THE
AMENDMENT.

5-906.

(A)  AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES AN AMENDMENT TO THE
PLAN, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(1)  PRESENT COPIES OF THE APPROVED AMENDMENT TO THE
GOVERNOR AND TO EACH LOCAL JURISDICTION ENTITLED TO VOTING
REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION, FOR THEIR INFORMATION; AND

(2)  MAKE COPIES OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN
AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

(B)  THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUOUSLY SHALL REVIEW AND EVALUATE
INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PATUXENT RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED.

(C)  THE DEPARTMENT PERIODICALLY SHALL MAKE AND ASSIST LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS AND UNITS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT IN MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS OF:

(1)  COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROGRAMS, AS THEY RELATE
TO THE PATUXENT RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED; AND

(2)  MAJOR LAND USE CHANGES, MAJOR REGULATORY ACTIONS,
AND MAJOR REZONINGS WHETHER PROPOSED OR IMPLEMENTED AS THEY
RELATE TO THE PATUXENT RIVER AND ITS WATERSHED.