WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                    Ch. 292

transportation needs of the municipalities within their
jurisdictions. Nothing in this section shall preclude a
municipality from requesting the county to apply for part or all
of the county's allocation of funds available under this section
on behalf of the municipality.

(2) In the event a municipality believes it is not
afforded a reasonable share of the funds available to the county
under this section, the municipality may appeal the county's
allocation decision directly to the Secretary.

(e)  (1) If any of the allocated funds described in
subsection (c) of this section are not applied for by the
counties within 6 months after the beginning of the fiscal year,
the Secretary shall make those funds available to counties
pursuant to application procedures and criteria developed by the
Secretary, in consultation with the Maryland Office on Aging and
the Governor's Office for Handicapped Individuals. The criteria
shall provide that:

(i) Such funds may be made available to
counties in which the Secretary determines that additional funds
for transportation service to the elderly and handicapped are
most needed; and

(ii) Local match requirements described in
subsection (f) of this section shall apply to all disbursements.

(2) A written application submitted by a county under
this subsection may not be accepted or considered by the
Secretary unless the local area agency on aging certifies its
approval of the project for the funding for which the application
is made.

(f)  (1) The Department shall provide capital assistance
with funds described in this section only on the basis of a 95
percent State, 5 percent county matching fund obligation.

(2) The Department shall provide operating assistance
with funds described in this section only:

(i) To fund operating deficits of the county's
transportation service; and

(ii) On the basis of a 75 percent State, 25
percent county matching fund obligation.

(g)  The Secretary, in consultation with the Maryland Office
on Aging and the Governor's Office for Handicapped Individuals,
shall develop procedures for the proper enforcement of this
section. The procedures shall provide that:

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