Ch. 289                                        1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

PROPERTY TAX IMPOSED ON A COMMERCIAL BUILDING LOCATED IN AN ELIGIBLE
AREA TO WHICH QUALIFYING RENOVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO MEET
STATE-OF-THE-ART COMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITY STANDARDS FOR
ACCOMMODATING ADVANCED COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING FIBER-OPTIC CABLE, EMERGENCY ELECTRICAL CAPACITY, AND
EMERGENCY BACKUP POWER.

(B)     FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT
GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT EXCEED THE LESSER OF:

(1)      10% OF THE COST OF RENOVATIONS TO A COMMERCIAL BUILDING
TO MEET STATE-OF-THE-ART COMMUNICATION AND UTILITY STANDARDS FOR
ACCOMMODATING ADVANCED COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING FIBER-OPTIC CABLE, EMERGENCY ELECTRICAL CAPACITY,
AND EMERGENCY BACKUP POWER; OR

(2)      THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION PROPERTY TAX
OTHERWISE DUE FOR THAT TAXABLE YEAR.

(C)     A TAX CREDIT GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE GRANTED
FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS.

(D)     THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE CITY OR THE
GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION MAY DESIGNATE
AN' AREA WITHIN THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AS AN AREA
ELIGIBLE FOR THE TAX CREDIT UNDER THIS SECTION IF THE AREA IS ELIGIBLE FOR
DESIGNATION AS A DESIGNATED NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CREATED UNDER ARTICLE 83B, §§ 2-1301
THROUGH 2-1308 OF THE CODE.

(E)     A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT MAY NOT BE GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION
UNLESS A REGISTERED COMMUNICATIONS DISTRIBUTION DESIGNER, ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION:

(E) A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT MAY BE GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION IF A
DESIGNEE OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION:

(1)      BEFORE CONSTRUCTION COMMENCES, REVIEWS AND APPROVES
THE PLANS FOR THE RENOVATIONS AS MEETING INDUSTRY STANDARDS PUBLISHED
BY THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (EIA/TIA BUILDING STANDARD 568); AND

(2)      DURING CONSTRUCTION AND ON COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION,
REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RENOVATIONS AS
CONFORMING WITH THE APPROVED PLANS.

(F)      THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE OR THE GOVERNING
BODY OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION MAY ESTABLISH:

(1) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON THE AMOUNT OR DURATION OF
CREDITS UNDER THIS SECTION;

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