PARRES N. GLENDENING, Governor                               Ch. 95

(iii) An agency designated as a community action agency under
relevant provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as amended by the
Community Services Block Grant Program; or

(iv) A private, nonprofit community organization that meets the
requirements for designation as a community action agency.

(2)     "Designation" means the selection of a proposed community action
agency by the governing body of a political subdivision.

(3)     "Governing body" means the county council, board of commissioners, or
other legislative body of a political subdivision that collectively possesses the power to
adopt and carry out local laws and ordinances; in Baltimore City "governing body" means
the Board of Estimates.

(4)     "Poverty level population" means the number of people whose
household income level is below the poverty line set by the Office of Management and
Budget.

(5)     "Local initiative" means the amount of federal funds received by a
community action agency for conduct, administration, and general community
programming.

(b)     (1) The General Assembly of Maryland recognizes that the economic and
social well-being of the citizens of the State is intrinsic to the strength and viability of the
State as a whole.

(2) It is the purpose of this section to strengthen, supplement and
coordinate efforts to combat the causes and problems of poverty in Maryland by;

(i) Mobilizing resources of both the private and public sectors of the
economy in order to increase opportunities for poor and low income citizens to develop
their skills, knowledge, and capabilities;

(ii) Developing the full potential of poor and low income citizens so
that each person can live in decency and dignity and achieve individual and family
self-sufficiency; and

(iii) Promoting the development, evaluation, and use of new and
innovative approaches to attack the origins and issues of poverty.

(c)     This section is intended to strengthen the ability of communities to plan and
coordinate available local, federal, State, and private resources, by making this assistance
more responsive to local needs and conditions.

(d)     (1) The governing body with jurisdiction over the community to be served by
the proposed community action agency may make, change, or revoke a designation:

(i) By act, ordinance, or resolution; or

(ii) By order of the chief executive of the governing body if the chief
legal officer certifies in writing that the chief executive possesses the power to make the
designation on behalf of the governing body.

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