In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Authority” means the Suitland Development Authority. “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Authority. “Buffer zone” means the area within 250 yards of the target area. “Target area” means the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor in Prince George’s County.

This subtitle shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes.

There is a Suitland Development Authority in Prince George’s County. The Authority is a body politic and corporate and is an instrumentality of the State. The exercise by the Authority of a power under this subtitle is the performance of an essential governmental function. The Governor shall include each year in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $500,000 to the Authority in Prince George’s County. Beginning fiscal year 2036, the Authority shall be self–sustaining.

The General Assembly finds that: there exists within various neighborhoods in Prince George’s County, particularly the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor, a need for residential and commercial development or redevelopment in furtherance of the public’s interest; the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor has experienced low housing and economic development in the community for decades; areas in the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor include both areas that are considered slum or blighted and areas that are deteriorated or subject to further deteriorating condition, and those areas are in need of development or redevelopment for the public benefit; the revitalization of areas within the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor needing commercial development or redevelopment is an essential governmental function and is a public use that will confer a public benefit on citizens of Prince George’s County by: relieving conditions of unemployment; encouraging the increase of commerce and a balanced economy; assisting in the retention of businesses and residents; attracting new industries and commerce; promoting economic development and growth; and generally promoting the health, welfare, and public safety of residents in Prince George’s County and increasing property tax revenues for the State and Prince George’s County; the establishment of this public Authority to provide financial resources for the development and establishment of residences and businesses through community organizations in the target area will significantly improve Prince George’s County neighborhoods and increase property tax revenues for the State and Prince George’s County; and the Authority is the economic development authority for the State to benefit the neighborhoods of Prince George’s County within the target area. The legislative purposes of the Authority are to: revive the various communities along the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor in Prince George’s County; promote economic development; encourage the increase of business activity, commerce, and a balanced economy in Prince George’s County; help to retain and attract business activity and commerce in Prince George’s County; and promote the health, public safety, right of gainful employment, and welfare of residents of Prince George’s County. The General Assembly intends that: the Authority operate and exercise its corporate powers along the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor in Prince George’s County; without limiting its authority to otherwise exercise its powers, the Authority exercises its powers to assist private real estate entities and nonprofit community development corporations to develop and rehabilitate housing and commercial units in Prince George’s County and support local economic development agencies to contribute to the expansion, modernization, and retention of existing enterprises in Prince George’s County as well as the attraction of new businesses to Prince George’s County; and the Authority should not own and operate a project unless: the Board determines by resolution that the private sector has not demonstrated serious and significant interest and development capacity to own and operate the project; or a representative of a governmental unit requests in writing that the Authority own and operate the project.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, in exercising its powers, the Authority: may carry out the purposes of the Authority without the consent of any State unit; and is not subject to: Subtitles 1 through 3 of this title; or the following provisions of the State Finance and Procurement Article: Title 2, Subtitles 2 (Gifts and Grants) and 5 (Facilities for the Handicapped); Title 3 (Budget and Management); Title 4 (Department of General Services); Title 5A (Division of Historical and Cultural Programs); Title 6, Subtitle 1 (Studies and Estimates); Title 7, Subtitles 1 (State Operating Budget), 2 (Disbursements and Expenditures), and 3 (Unspent Balances); Title 10 (Board of Public Works – Miscellaneous Provisions); or Division II (General Procurement Law). The Authority is subject to: the Public Information Act; and the Open Meetings Act. The Authority and its officers and employees are subject to the Public Ethics Law. The Authority and its officers and employees are subject to Title 12, Subtitle 4 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The Authority is subject to Title 14, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

A Board of Directors shall manage the Authority and exercise its powers. The Board consists of the following members: one member of the Senate of Maryland who represents the target area to serve in an advisory capacity, appointed by the President of the Senate; one member of the House of Delegates who represents the target area to serve in an advisory capacity, appointed by the Speaker of the House; the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the Secretary’s designee; the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee; the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; the Executive Director of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, or the Executive Director’s designee; the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Economic Development in Prince George’s County, or the Deputy Chief’s designee; one member of the Suitland Legacy Mixed–Use Town Center Design Review Committee who is the federal representative to the Design Review Committee, appointed by the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission Planning Director; the Director of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, or the Director’s designee; the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County, or the Executive Director’s designee; the Executive Director of the Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County, or the Executive Director’s designee; the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement of Prince George’s County, or the Director’s designee; the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Prince George’s County Planning Director, or the Director’s designee; one Suitland community member, appointed by the Speaker of the House; one Suitland community member, appointed by the President of the Senate; one Suitland community member, appointed by the County Executive of Prince George’s County; and one commercial property owner within the target area, appointed by the County Executive. The County Executive shall select the chair of the Board. The Board shall elect the cochair of the Board from the members listed under subsection (b)(3) through (6), (14), and (15) of this section.

The Authority may manage appropriated funds from Prince George’s County and the State. The Authority may receive donated services from accountants, lawyers, or other consultants as necessary to carry out this subtitle. The Authority may supervise, manage, and terminate staff and consultants as necessary.

A member of the Authority: may not receive compensation as a member of the Authority; but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

The Authority shall: support the development and approval of a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan in the target area and the buffer zone to benefit: the residents; housing; neighborhoods; economic development; and transportation, including motor vehicles and pedestrians; and work in coordination with the residents of the target area and the buffer zone to develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan. The Authority may, by a majority vote of all members of the Authority, modify the boundaries of the target area and the buffer zone. On or before December 15, 2027, the Authority shall report its comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, including any procurement activities undertaken by the Authority, to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the House Economic Matters Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee.

The Authority may: adopt bylaws for the conduct of the business of the Authority; adopt a seal; sue or be sued; maintain an office at a place the Authority designates in Prince George’s County; make or accept and manage loans, grants, or assistance of any kind from the federal or State government, a local government, a college or university, a charitable institution, a nonprofit organization, a for–profit organization, or a private source; make grants to individuals; acquire properties in Prince George’s County, directly or indirectly, from a person or political subdivision, to improve, manage, market, maintain, or lease, from a person or political subdivision for residential, commercial, or industrial development or redevelopment, including comprehensive renovation or rehabilitation of the land or property on terms the Authority considers reasonable to operate a project in Prince George’s County, by: purchase; gift; interest; condemnation; eminent domain, except for: owner–occupied residential properties; and property owned or controlled by the Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County or the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County; tax sale; foreclosure; receivership; in rem foreclosure proceedings; easement, or any other interest in land; lease; and rent; acquire, purchase, hold, lease as lessee, and use: a franchise, patent, or license; any real, personal, mixed, tangible, or intangible property; or an interest in the property listed in this item; finance all or part of the acquisition or improvement of a project; sell, lease as lessor, transfer, license, assign, or dispose of property or a property interest that the Authority acquires; fix and collect rates, rentals, fees, royalties, and charges for services and resources the Authority provides or makes available; enter into contracts with any federal, State, or local government agency, a governmental unit, a college or university, charitable institutions, or a private entity or party; exercise power usually possessed by a private corporation in performing similar functions unless to do so would conflict with State law; with the owner’s permission, enter lands or premises to make a survey, a sounding, a boring, or an examination to accomplish the purpose authorized by this subtitle; create, own, control, or be a member of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or any other entity; create a special district benefit for the commercial businesses in the target area; open a bank account with a national or local federally insured financial institution; set salaries in accordance with the jurisdiction market rate and outside the State Personnel and Pension System; create a forum for stakeholders to come together on creating a 20–year comprehensive plan around economic, housing, transportation, neighborhood, and green space development within the target area; serve as a clearinghouse and resource center for promoting coordination and communication on development opportunities for the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor; ensure money is being spent effectively and efficiently on development and that development is happening in the appropriate way for the Suitland Road and Silver Hill Road corridor; provide advisory services to State and Prince George’s County agencies on planning and development for the target area; initiate, fund, and monitor for efficiency and effectiveness economic, housing, transportation, neighborhood, and green space development within the target area; make rules and regulations for the operation and use of land, property, and undertakings under the Authority’s jurisdiction; and do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted by this subtitle.

The Authority shall establish a system of financial accounting, controls, audits, and reports. The fiscal year of the Authority begins on July 1 and ends on the following June 30.

The Authority may create and administer the accounts that the Authority requires. The Authority shall deposit its money into a Prince George’s County or national bank or a federally insured savings and loan association that has a total paid–in capital of at least $1,000,000. The Authority may designate the trust department of a Prince George’s County or national bank or savings and loan association as a depository to receive securities that the Authority owns or acquires.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Authority is exempt from taxation or assessments on any part of a development or project, the Authority’s activities in operating and maintaining a development or project, and revenues from a development or project. Any property that is sold or leased by the Authority to a private entity is subject to Prince George’s County and local real property taxes from the time of sale or lease. The Authority is exempt from State and local transfer and recordation tax. The Authority is exempt from the sales and use tax on construction materials for a project in the target area of the buffer zone.

In this section, “Fund” means the Suitland Development Authority Fund. There is a Suitland Development Authority Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to provide funds for the Authority to use for consulting fees, salaries, and administrative expenses. The Authority shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; interest earnings; and any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund may be used only for administrative purposes and to carry out the functions of this subtitle. The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.