Ch. 412                                    2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

E.      Before the county imposes a transfer tax under this section, the County
Commissioners shall hold a public hearing that:

(1)     Shall be advertised by publication in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county at least ten (10) days before the hearing; and

(2)     May not be part of the annual budget hearing.

F.       The authority granted to impose a transfer tax under this section shall
terminate and be of no effect after [July 1, 2005] JULY 1, 2010.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 2004.

Approved May 11, 2004.

CHAPTER 412
(House Bill 1295)

AN ACT concerning

St. Mary's County - Emergency Services Tax

FOR the purpose of establishing an emergency services tax on all real and personal
property in St. Mary's County for fire companies, rescue squads, and certain
support services organizations; authorizing the Board of County Commissioners
to set separate emergency services tax rates in each Election District in St.
Mary's County; establishing maximum allowable emergency services tax rates
on the assessed value of all real and personal property in St. Mary's County;
providing for the distribution of the emergency services tax to certain emergency
services providers under certain circumstances; requiring certain fire
companies, rescue squads, and support services organizations to submit
annually a budget and a certified accounting of all expenditures to the Board of
County Commissioners; requiring the County Commissioners to report to the St.
Mary's County Delegation of the General Assembly on or before a certain date
for a certain number of years; defining a certain term; and generally relating to
the St. Mary's County emergency services tax.

BY repealing

The Public Local Laws of St. Mary's County
Section 49-1, 49-2, and 49-6
Article 19 - Public Local Laws of Maryland
(2002 Edition, as amended)

BY renumbering

The Public Local Laws of St. Mary's County

Section 49-3, 49-4, and 49-5, respectively

to be Section 49-2, 49-3, and 49-4, respectively

- 1488 -