WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 174

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Natural Resources

8-1001.

(e) "Project construction cost" means the estimated cost to
DESIGN AND construct a shore erosion control project, exclusive
of [design,] supervision, inspection, and maintenance costs.

8-1005.

(a) There is a "Shore Erosion Control Construction Loan
Fund." The Department shall administer the Fund solely to provide
interest-free loans to persons, municipalities, or counties for
DESIGN AND construction of shore erosion structures. The Fund
shall be maintained by:

(1)  Repayments of principal on loans made from the
Fund, with the repayments made through a [special real estate
tax] BENEFIT CHARGE the State levies on privately owned property
benefited by shore erosion control projects. The [tax] BENEFIT
CHARGE shall compensate the State for net project construction
cost. The [tax] BENEFIT CHARGE shall be levied at a uniform rate
over a period not exceeding 25 years; and

(2)  Annual appropriation of general funds to restore
the Fund to a level sufficient to carry out an effective shore
erosion control construction loan program during the succeeding
year.

A property owner whose project is approved is eligible to
receive an interest-free loan covering 100 percent of the first
[$50,000] $60,000 of project construction cost, 50 percent of the
next $20,000 of project construction cost, 25 percent of the next
$20,000 of project construction cost, and 10 percent of the part
of construction cost exceeding [$90,000] $100,000. However, where
two or more property owners are included within a shore erosion
control project, [and project construction costs exceed
$100,000,] the land of each property owner is considered a
separate shore erosion project for the purpose of computing net
project construction cost under this formula.

8-1005.1.

(A)  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS SUBTITLE,
THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE A PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAS REQUESTED A
LOAN, OR A PROPERTY OWNER MAY ELECT, TO PROCURE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR A SHORE EROSION CONTROL PROJECT.

(B)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS
ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THE

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