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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="4-305" title_number="4" title_name="In General" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Amendment or Repeal of Charter">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>By a petition presented to the legislative body of a municipality, at least 20% of the qualified voters for the municipal general election may initiate a proposed amendment to the municipal charter.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Each individual signing the petition shall indicate on the petition the individual’s name and residence address.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On receiving the petition, the legislative body shall verify that each individual who signed the petition is a qualified voter for the municipal general election.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The petition has no effect if it is signed by less than 20% of the qualified voters for the municipal general election.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Before voting on the proposed amendment initiated by the petition presented under subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>give at least 21 days’ advance notice of the public hearing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the legislative body approves of the amendment in the petition presented under subsection (a) of this section, the legislative body may adopt the proposed amendment by resolution and proceed in the same manner as if the amendment had been initiated by the legislative body and in compliance with §§ 4–303(a) and 4–304 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if the petition complies with this section, the legislative body, no later than 60 days after the petition is presented to the legislative body, shall specify by resolution adopted in accordance with its normal legislative procedure:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the day and hours for the referendum; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the exact text that is to be placed on the ballot.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The legislative body may schedule the referendum for the next regular municipal general election or at a special election.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the legislative body schedules a special election, it shall be held not less than 40 days or more than 60 days after the resolution scheduling the referendum is adopted.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The chief executive officer of the municipality shall give notice of a submission of a proposed charter amendment by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>posting an exact copy of the proposed amendment at the main municipal building or other public place for at least 40 days immediately preceding the referendum at which the question is to be submitted; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>on the day of the referendum, posting a similar copy at the place for voting; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>publishing notice of the referendum and a fair summary of the proposed amendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once in each of the 4 weeks immediately preceding the referendum; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <level label="A">
            <text>publishing a fair summary of the proposed amendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once; and</text>
          </level>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>delivering a copy of a fair summary of the proposed charter amendment either by hand or by mail to every residence in the municipality.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The delivery required under paragraph (1)(ii)2B of this subsection may be accomplished by including a fair summary of the proposed charter amendment in a printed newsletter or any other regular municipal publication.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The municipality delivering a copy of a fair summary under paragraph (1)(ii)2B of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>maintain a record of or a copy of the receipt for the delivery under the records retention and document disposal schedule of the municipality; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>make the record or copy available to the general public in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
