(2) THE SECRETARY SHALL COOPERATE WITH AND ASSIST THE COUNTY
OR COUNTIES IN A REGION IN THE SELECTION OF A SITE THAT WILL BE CONSISTENT
WITH THE STANDARDS ADOPTED UNDER § 11-305 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(3) BEFORE SELECTING A SITE, THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY IN
WHICH A SITE IS PROPOSED SHALL HOLD AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE
COUNTY.

(B) ACQUISITION OF SITES AND FACILITIES.

(1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A COUNTY MAY:

(I) ACQUIRE A SITE OR FACILITY THAT IS; LOCATED IN THE
COUNTY FOR USE AS A CENTER BY LEASE, PURCHASE, CONDEMNATION, OR OTHER
LAWFUL MANNER; AND

(II) CONSTRUCT OR RENOVATE A FACILITY ON A SITE ACQUIRED BY
THE COUNTY.

(2) A COUNTY MAY NOT EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY GRANTED UNDER
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION UNLESS THE SECRETARY HAS DETERMINED
THAT:

(I) THERE IS A NEED FOR THE CENTER;

(II) THE PROPOSED SITE AND FACILITY ARE APPROPRIATE; AND

(III) THE FACILITY IS OR, ON COMPLETION, WILL BE, CONSISTENT
WITH THE STANDARDS ADOPTED UNDER § 11-305 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(C) AGREEMENT FOR REGIONAL CENTER

SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF AND AUTHORITY GRANTED UNDER
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, COUNTIES MAY ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH
EACH OTHER AND WITH THE STATE FOR THE LOCATION, ACQUISITION,
CONSTRUCTION, AND RENOVATION OF FACILITIES FOR A REGIONAL CENTER.

(D) COUNTIES WITH MULTIPLE DISTRICTS.

IF A COUNTY IS DIVIDED INTO COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS OR CONTAINS MORE
THAN ONE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, THE COUNTY MAY PROVIDE BY ORDINANCE THAT
IT WILL NOT PLACE MORE THAN ONE CENTER IN A COUNCILMANIC OR LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT UNLESS THERE IS A CENTER IN EACH COUNCILMANIC OR LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY.

(E) DEFAULT.

(1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, IF A
COUNTY OR THE COUNTIES IN A REGION FAIL TO SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY A
PROPOSED SITE AND PLANS FOR A FACILITY ON IT CONSISTENT WITH THE
STANDARDS ADOPTED UNDER § 11-305 OF THIS SUBTITLE WITHIN 18 MONTHS AFTER