H.B. 1179                                                VETOES

(7) SEAFOOD AND AQUACULTURAL PRODUCTS.

(C) "AGRICULTURAL AREA" MEANS ANY AREA IN THE STATE WHERE
AGRICULTURE OCCURS.

(D) "RURAL AREA" MEANS ALLEGANY, CALVERT, CAROLINE, CARROLL, CECIL,
CHARLES, DORCHESTER, FREDERICK, GARRETT, HARFORD, KENT, QUEEN ANNE'S, ST.
MARY'S, SOMERSET, TALBOT, WASHINGTON, WICOMICO, AND WORCESTER COUNTIES.

(E) (1) "RURAL COMMUNITY" MEANS AN INCORPORATED OR

UNINCORPORATED AREA OF A COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES IN A RURAL AREA.

(2) "RURAL COMMUNITY" INCLUDES A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION IN A RURAL AREA.

(F) "PROGRAM" MEANS THE RURAL MARYLAND PROSPERITY INVESTMENT
PROGRAM UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

13-502.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT;

(1) MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE ARE FACING A HOST OF
DIFFICULT CHALLENGES RELATING TO PERSISTENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND
POVERTY, CHANGING TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, AN AGING
POPULATION AND AN OUT MIGRATION OF YOUTH, INADEQUATE ACCESS TO
QUALITY HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SERVICES, AND DETERIORATING OR
INADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, SANITATION, AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE;

(2) THE STATE'S AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE BASED INDUSTRIES
CONTINUE TO UNDERPIN THE LOCAL ECONOMIES OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUT
ARE INCREASINGLY UNDER THREAT FROM NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKET
COMPETITION, URBAN ENCROACHMENT AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY INFLUENCES, AND LACK OF ACCESS TO CREDIT
AND CAPITAL FOR NEW ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT;

(3) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
MEET ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND
HUMAN SERVICES NEEDS OF MARYLAND CITIZENS RESIDING IN THE RURAL
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ADEQUATE
AVAILABLE CAPACITY AND RESOURCES;

(4) (I) THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RURAL MARYLAND PROSPERITY
INVESTMENT PROGRAM IS TO RAISE THE OVERALL STANDARD OF LIVING IN RURAL
AREAS BY THE YEAR 2020 TO A LEVEL THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS STATEWIDE
BENCHMARK AVERAGES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PRESERVING THE BEST ASPECTS
OF A PASTORAL HERITAGE AND RURAL WAY OF LIFE;

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