PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 209

(4) Any turf farm proceeds, under the contract, from the sale of the
turfgrass research farm that are in excess of the turf farm endowment shall be used by the
University of Maryland System for the planning, engineering, development, construction,
and installation of an experimental turf farm facility and ancillary improvements in
accordance with § 12-105 of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1997.

Approved April 29, 1997.

CHAPTER 209
(House Bill 1430)

AN ACT concerning

University of Maryland System - Sale of Great Oaks Center - Disposition of Proceeds

FOR the purpose of directing that a certain part of the proceeds from the sale of the
Great Oaks Center be deposited directly into the endowment maintained and
managed by the University of Maryland System and used by the. University of
Maryland System for certain purposes; directing that a certain other part of the
proceeds be used by the University of Maryland System for certain other purposes;
and generally relating to the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Great Oaks
Center.

Preamble

WHEREAS, In 1939 the University of Maryland acquired 158 acres in Silver Spring,
Maryland and established a farm dedicated to agronomic and horticultural research; and

WHEREAS, In 1968 the University of Maryland transferred its 158 acre farm to the
State of Maryland, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, for the purpose of
supporting the development of the Great Oaks Center, a residential treatment center for
the developmentally disabled; and

WHEREAS, In 1982 the State of Maryland made available to the University of
Maryland at College Park 38 acres of the Great Oaks Center for the support and
development of a turfgrass research farm; and

WHEREAS, After receiving the 38 acres, the University developed a nationally
recognized turfgrass research farm, investing more than $700,000 in capital and other
improvements; and

WHEREAS, The turfgrass research farm of the University is utilized intensively,
represents more than a decade of planning and cooperation between the University and
private industry, and serves as a model partnership for environmentally beneficial
research and education programs involving the University, private industry, and the U. S.
Department of Agriculture; and

- 1941 -