Ch. 568

1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2) The Foundation shall adopt by regulation a standard priority ranking
system by which it shall rank each application. The system shall be based on the following
criteria as to the easements offered in any one county:

(i) The applications shall be assigned a rank in ascending order with
respect to the proportion obtained by dividing the asking price by the State easement
value. The resulting rank shall be the sole criterion for establishing the priority for
discounted applications that include proportions of 1.0 or lower.

(ii) All additional applications which include proportions greater than
1.0 shall be assigned a numerical value that, in regard to the land for which the easement
is offered, reflects:

1.       The relative productive capacity of the land;

2.       The extent to which the easement acquisition will contribute
to the continued availability of agricultural suppliers and markets for agricultural goods;
and

3.       The priority recommendations of the local governing bodies.

[(g)](F) The Foundation may approve general allotted purchases of easements in
a county [in any offer cycle] not to exceed in aggregate value the amount allotted for that
county under § 2-508(b)[(l)] for the fiscal year in which such purchases are made, plus
any amount of transferred local open space funds designated by the local governing body
for general purchases.

[(h)](G) The Foundation may approve matching allotted purchases of easements
in an eligible county [in any offer cycle] such that the Foundation's share will not exceed
in aggregate value the amount allotted for that county under § 2-508(b) [(2)] for that
fiscal year.

[(i)](H) Upon approval of a majority of the board members at-large, and upon
the recommendation of the State Treasurer and the Secretary, an application to sell shall
be approved, and an offer to buy containing the specific terms of the purchase shall be
tendered to the landowner. An offer to buy may specify terms, contingencies, and
conditions not contained in the original application.

[(j)](I) (1) With respect to allotted purchases, the Foundation shall tender
any offer to buy containing the specific terms of the purchase on or before January 31 of
the fiscal year in which the purchase is to be made [for the first offer cycle and July 31 of
the next fiscal year for the second offer cycle].

(2)     With respect to additional offers to buy tendered under § 2-508(c), the
Foundation may not tender such offers earlier than [30 days after the completion of
allotted purchases in each offer cycle] APRIL 1 NOR LATER THAN MAY 29 OF THE
FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THE PURCHASE IS TO BE MADE.

(3)     A landowner has 30 days from the date of any offer to buy in which to
accept or reject the offer.

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