Ch. 568

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2)     To applicants on a statewide basis as provided by the priority ranking
system established under § 2-510[(e)] (D) of this subtitle; and

(3)     Only after the expiration of the period allowed for acceptance of offers
to buy under allotted general and matching purchases.

2-508.1.

(a)     If a county is certified by the Office of Planning under § 5-408 of the State
Finance and Procurement Article as having established an effective county agricultural
land preservation program, and if there are moneys remaining in the Maryland
Agricultural Land Preservation Fund at the end of the fiscal year, the county may apply
to the Foundation for an amount equal to the difference between:

(1)     The aggregate amount allotted on behalf of the county under general
allotted purchases of easements as provided in § 2-508(b)[(1)] of this subtitle [in both
offer cycles] for the fiscal year in which easement purchases are made; and

(2)     The amount committed by the Foundation on behalf of the county under
general allotted purchases of easements as provided in § 2-508(b) [(1)] of this subtitle
[after both offer cycles] for the fiscal year in which easement purchases are made.

(b)     The distribution under this section shall be made within 60 days of the end of
each fiscal year.

(c)     If the moneys remaining in the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation
Fund at the end of the fiscal year are insufficient to distribute the total amount applied
for under subsection (a) of this section, the maximum amount that may be distributed to
any certified county is:

(1)     The total sum available divided by the number of counties applying for
additional funds under this section; less

(2)     The amount committed by the Foundation on behalf of the county under
general allotted purchases of easements as provided in § 2-508(b) [(1)] of this subtitle
[in both offer cycles] for the fiscal year in which easement purchases are made.

(d)     A county may use the additional funds distributed under this section only for
an approved agricultural land preservation program for the purposes stated under §
2-512 of this subtitle, including use for bond annuity funds, collateralizing loans, or
matching funds.

2-510.

(a)     An owner of agricultural land located in an agricultural district established
under this subtitle may offer by written application to sell an easement to the Foundation
on the entire contiguous acreage of such agricultural land.

(b)     [(1)]In order to be considered by the Foundation, an application to sell shall:

[(i)] (1) Be received by the board not later than July 1 [for the first
offer cycle or January 1 for the second offer cycle] of the fiscal year in which the
application is to be considered;

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