In this subtitle, “governing body” means: the county council of a county with a charter form of government established under Article XI-A of the Maryland Constitution; or the board of county commissioners of any other county.

This subtitle does not apply to Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Washington, and Worcester counties.

The governing body of a county may establish a correctional farm.

A governing body may: purchase or otherwise acquire real or personal property needed for a correctional farm; and provide for the disposition or retention of existing local correctional facilities in the county. After considering the probable income from the correctional farm property, a governing body shall prepare an annual budget of proposed expenditures for the: care, operation, and maintenance of the property; and feeding of incarcerated individuals. A budget prepared as provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be included in the county’s annual budget. Any levy imposed for the budget prepared as provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be collected as part of the county tax.

The governing body: shall have full and complete jurisdiction and control over all: real property leased in connection with a correctional farm; and personal property used in connection with a correctional farm; and may acquire by lease, purchase, or otherwise all real property, equipment, food, uniforms, clothing, books, ledgers, stationery, and other supplies necessary to carry out this subtitle. The county officials who are required by law to maintain, operate, and administer the local correctional facilities in a county shall maintain, operate, and administer any correctional farm established under this subtitle in the county. With the advice of the individual in charge of farming operations at a correctional farm, the governing body shall determine: the crops to be planted and grown on the correctional farm or real property held under lease; and the acreage for each crop. To the extent expedient, produce or proceeds from the sale of produce from the correctional farm shall be used to feed incarcerated individuals committed to the correctional farm.

An incarcerated individual committed to or held in a local correctional facility may be transferred to the correctional farm in the county. Unless excused for good cause, an incarcerated individual committed to a correctional farm shall work as directed on the correctional farm or any real property leased in connection with the correctional farm.

The governing body shall determine if an incarcerated individual shall be compensated for work performed by the incarcerated individual. If a governing body determines that an incarcerated individual shall be compensated as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the governing body shall determine whether the incarcerated individual’s compensation shall be: paid to the incarcerated individual during the incarcerated individual’s term of confinement; withheld until the incarcerated individual’s term of confinement expires; or paid periodically to an incarcerated individual’s dependent family.