ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                          H.B. 1147

(1999 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 552 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2000
Section 4 and 5

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Chapter 534 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2002
Section 2

Preamble

WHEREAS, Many rural communities in Maryland are currently facing difficult
challenges relating to changing economic condition, an aging population, an
inadequate access to quality health care and other services, and a deteriorating or
inadequate physical infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Local governments, educational institutions, and private service
providers in rural areas are increasingly unable to meet all the economic
development, community development, and human services needs of approximately
1.4 million citizens residing in the rural counties and municipalities; and

WHEREAS, Agricultural and other resource-based enterprises continue to
underpin the local economies of rural communities, but are increasingly under threat
from national and international competition, land development pressure, and
regulatory influences; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress passed The Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 which potentially provides Marylanders with opportunities to
seek assistance on a variety of rural concerns including agricultural and forest land
preservation, soil and water conservation, agribusiness development, small
community water and wastewater infrastructure, safe and affordable housing,
broadband telecommunications access, and other community facilities; and

WHEREAS, The State's existing rural capacity development programs could be
combined to provide for more efficient programmatic and policy development
coordination, take better advantage of new opportunities, and enhance the
capabilities of Maryland's rural communities to deal with the difficult challenges they
face; now, therefore,

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

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments

Title 15. [Forvm for] Rural Maryland COUNCIL.
15-101.

IN THIS TITLE, "COUNCIL" MEANS THE RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL.

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