1999 LAWS OF MARYLAND

which provides that the singular includes the plural unless that
construction is unreasonable.

The Correctional Services Article Review Committee notes, for
consideration by the General Assembly, that former Art. 27, § 710(a), which
is revised in subsection (a)(3) of this section, required the "county
governing body" to hold at least one public hearing in the county in which
a site is proposed. The Committee is uncertain as to the meaning of the
term "county governing body" in the context of a regional center. Was this
reference intended to require the governing bodies of each of the counties
in a region to hold a hearing in the county in which the site is proposed?
Alternatively, was this intended to require only the governing body of the
county in which the site is proposed to hold a hearing? The Committee
believes that the later interpretation is correct. If the General Assembly
intended the former interpretation, the General Assembly may wish to
amend subsection (a)(3) of this section accordingly.

In subsection (b)(1)(i) of this section, the reference to "other lawful
manner" is substituted for the former reference to "otherwise" to clarify
that the county may not illegally obtain facilities.

Also in subsection (b)(1)(i) of this section, the former reference to sites "for
facilities" is deleted as implicit in the reference to a "site".

In subsection (b)(2)(i) of this section, the former reference to the Secretary's
determination that there is a need "in the county" for the center is deleted
as implicit in the reference to the need "for the center".

In subsection (c) of this section, the former statement that the authority
granted by this subsection is "an extension of the authority granted in
subsection (b)" is deleted as implicit in the introductory language of this
subsection, which provides that the authority granted by this subsection is
"[s]ubject to ... the authority granted under subsection (b) of this section".

In subsection (d) of this section, the reference to a center "acquired by [a
county] under this subsection (b)" is deleted as implicit in the reference to
a "center".

In subsection (f)(1) of this section, the reference to "counties in a region"
that are in default is added to state expressly that which was formerly only
implied in the reference to a "county" that is in default, i.e., the Secretary
has the same authority when counties in a region default on their duties
with regard to a regional center as when a single county defaults on its
duties with regard to a center. Similarly, the reference to the Secretary's
authority to recommend a site for a "regional center" is added to state
expressly that which was formerly only implied in the reference to the
Secretary's authority to recommend a site for a "center".

In subsection (f)(2) of this section, the reference to the authority of the
Board of Public Works to "approve" a site for a regional center is deleted as
implicit in subsection (f)(4) of this section, under which the Board may