Ch. 209

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

FOR the purpose of authorizing the County Commissioners of Somerset County to
grant one or more franchises a franchise for a ferry company to operate between
Somerset County and Reedville, Virginia, on a an exclusive or nonexclusive
basis; requiring the County Commissioners of Somerset County to review a
certain proposed business and financial plan at a certain time; authorizing the
County Commissioners of Somerset County to adopt certain regulations that are
consistent with certain regulations adopted by the Public Service Commission;
providing that a ferry company granted a franchise under this Act has a certain
period of time in which to exercise the franchise, after which the franchise is
null and void; providing that a ferry company that has been granted a franchise
that has become null and void is not precluded from subsequently applying for
another franchise; prohibiting a ferry company granted a franchise under this
Act from conducting certain any gambling or gaming activities on any ferry that
it operates under the franchise; and generally relating to a public transportation
franchises franchise in Somerset County.

BY adding to

Article 25 — County Commissioners

Section 3D(a)(3)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(2001 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 25 - County Commissioners

3D.

(a) (3) (I) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY ANTICOMPETITIVE EFFECT, THE
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SOMERSET COUNTY MAY GRANT ONE OR MORE
FRANCHISES A FRANCHISE FOR A FERRY COMPANY TO OPERATE BETWEEN
SOMERSET COUNTY AND REEDVILLE, VIRGINIA ON A AN EXCLUSIVE OR
NONEXCLUSIVE BASIS.

(II)     BEFORE GRANTING A FRANCHISE FOR TO A FERRY COMPANY,
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SOMERSET COUNTY SHALL REVIEW THE
PROPOSED BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PLAN FOR OF THE FERRY COMPANY.

(III)    1. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF SOMERSET COUNTY
MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.

2. REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH
SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH ANY REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION THAT RELATE TO FERRY COMPANIES.

(IV)    1. A FERRY COMPANY THAT IS GRANTED A FRANCHISE
UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH HAS UP TO 18 MONTHS TO EXERCISE THE FRANCHISE.

- 1928 -