ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 416

necessary to demonstrate the precise location of the area, including a map of the area
showing planning and zoning characteristics, and existing and planned water and
sewer services as appropriate.

(d)     The Department of Planning, as appropriate, shall provide to each State
agency that funds growth-related projects copies of maps illustrating:

(1)     priority funding areas certified by the local government OR COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS; and

(2)     any comments by the Department of Planning on the areas certified.

(e)     Prior to funding a growth-related project, the State funding agency shall
obtain from the affected local government OR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS a written
statement that the proposed growth-related project is located within a certified
priority funding area.

(F) A STATE FUNDING AGENCY MAY GIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION TO
FUNDING A PROJECT IN A PRIORITY FUNDING AREA DESIGNATED BY TWO OR MORE
COUNTY GOVERNMENTS UNDER § 5-7B-03(A)(2) OF THIS SUBTITLE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before June 1,
2004, the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission
Department of Planning shall develop and adopt regulations governing the
designation of a priority funding area by the governing bodies of two or more counties
as provided under this Act.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 2003.

Approved May 22, 2003.

CHAPTER 416
(House Bill 287)

AN ACT concerning

Public General Laws - Evidence of the Law

FOR the purpose of establishing a rule of interpretation that provides that certain
references in the codified laws of the State to the "Code", "Annotated Code", and
similar terms shall mean any code adopted as evidence of the public general
laws of the State under a certain provision of law; adopting the 2002 Edition of
the Annotated Code of Maryland as published by the editorial staff of West,
Eagan, Minnesota (West Code), and all replacement volumes and supplements
to the West Code; providing that the West Code and all replacement volumes
and supplements to the West Code are evidence of the Public General Laws of
Maryland and shall be considered as evidence of the law in all courts of the State
and by all public offices and officers of the State and its political subdivisions;

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