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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="1-1318" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="13" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Invasive bamboo” means nonnative bamboo that is characterized by aggressive spreading behavior, including bamboo species in the genus Phyllostachys.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Listed invasive tree” means any tree on the “Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List” posted by the Department of Agriculture.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Native tree replacement program” means a program whereby a person receives a native tree in exchange for removing and eradicating an invasive tree.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Tree of heaven” means the Ailanthus altissima tree species.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section applies to all counties and municipalities.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The governing body of a county or municipality, by ordinance, may regulate invasive bamboo, listed invasive trees, or trees of heaven, including by prohibiting a person from:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>selling invasive bamboo, listed invasive trees, or trees of heaven;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>planting invasive bamboo, listed invasive trees, or trees of heaven;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>allowing invasive bamboo to grow on the property of the person without proper upkeep and appropriate containment measures, including barriers or trenches; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>allowing trees of heaven or other listed invasive trees to grow on the person’s property.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The governing body of a county or municipality may provide for the enforcement of an ordinance adopted under this section by:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>requiring any damages caused by invasive bamboo, listed invasive trees, or trees of heaven to be mitigated; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>establishing a civil fine.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The governing body of a county or municipality may establish a bounty or native tree replacement program to incentivize the removal and eradication of trees of heaven and other listed invasive trees.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A bounty or native tree replacement program established by a county or municipality shall require:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an invasive tree to be properly identified consistent with the species page published by the University of Maryland agriculture extension; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the invasive species, after being properly identified, to be removed or eradicated according to professionally accepted methods or consistent with methodology on the species page published by the University of Maryland agriculture extension.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
