PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

S.B. 810

(g) An application by a political subdivision and the designation by the Secretary
of an area as an enterprise zone shall constitute the State approval that may be required
for designation as an enterprise zone under federal law.

(h) Before designating an enterprise zone, the Secretary shall consult with and ask
the advice of the appropriate individuals and advisors.

[5-303.] 5-403.

(a)     The Secretary may not designate any area an enterprise zone unless that area
satisfies at least one of the following requirements:

(1)     The average rate of unemployment in the area, or within a reasonable
proximity within that county to that area, for the most recent 18-month period for which
data are available must be at least 150 percent of the average rate of unemployment in
either the State of Maryland or the United States, whichever average rate is greater,
during that same period;

(2)     The population in the area or within a reasonable proximity within that
county to that area is a low-income poverty area on the basis of the most recent census;

(3)     At least 70 percent of the families living in the area or within a
reasonable proximity within that county to that area have incomes that are less than an
amount equal to 80 percent of the median family income within the political subdivision
in which the area is located; or

(4)     Population in the area or within a reasonable proximity within that
county to that area decreased by 10 percent between the date of the most recent census
and the date of the immediately preceding census, and the political subdivision can
demonstrate to the Secretary's satisfaction that either chronic abandonment or
demolition of property is occurring in that area or substantial property tax arrearages
exist within that area.

(b)     The Secretary may establish by regulation any other requirements that the
Secretary reasonably determines are necessary and appropriate to assure that the
purposes of this subtitle are satisfied.

(c)     In determining if an area meets the requirements of this section the Secretary
may consider data provided by the United States Bureau of the Census from the most
recent census or any other reliable data which the Secretary determines to be acceptable
for the purposes for which such data are used.

[5-304.] 5-404.

(a) The following incentives and initiatives shall be available to business entities
to the extent provided for in this section:

(1)     The special property tax credit set forth in § 9-103 of the Tax - Property
Article.

(2)     The income tax credits set forth in § 10-702 of the Tax - General
Article.

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