In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Fund” means: in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Grant Fund; and in Prince George’s County, the Prince George’s County Historic Property Grant Fund. “Historic property” means a district, site, building, structure, or object significant in the history, upland or underwater archaeology, architecture, engineering, or culture of the State. “Historic property” includes remains related to a district, site, building, structure, or object described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. “Preservation” means the identification, evaluation, recordation, documentation, acquisition, protection, management, rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, maintenance, or reconstruction of a historic property. “Program” means: in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Grant Program; and in Prince George’s County, the Prince George’s County Historic Property Grant Program.

There is a Montgomery County Historic Preservation Grant Program. There is a Prince George’s County Historic Property Grant Program. The purposes of each Program are to: preserve, protect, and enhance historic properties; encourage others to preserve, protect, and enhance historic properties; and promote interest in and the study of historic properties.

Each Program is of general benefit to the residents of the State and is charitable in nature.

The powers and duties of each Program are vested in and exercised by: in Montgomery County, the county planning board in consultation with the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission; and subject to subsection (b) of this section, in Prince George’s County, the county planning board. In Prince George’s County, the county, by local law, may provide for the historic preservation, outreach and marketing, and maintenance of historic properties activities of the Commission. A local law enacted under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be consistent with the provisions of this division.

There is a Montgomery County Historic Preservation Grant Fund. There is a Prince George’s County Historic Property Grant Fund. Each county planning board administers its Fund. Each county planning board shall deposit in its Fund those amounts authorized in accordance with Title 18, Subtitle 1 of this article to: implement and encourage restoration and preservation of historic properties; and implement the purposes of its Program. Each county planning board shall expend the amounts in its Fund to make grants to nonprofit organizations or foundations. In Montgomery County: grants may also be made for research, developing educational materials, and generally promoting historic preservation; and in making grants, the county planning board, if practical to do so, shall obtain and implement the recommendations of the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission. In Prince George’s County: grants may also be made to political subdivisions or individuals to acquire, preserve, restore, or rehabilitate historic properties; and in making grants, the county planning board shall solicit and consider the recommendations of the Prince George’s County Historic Preservation Commission. When a county planning board awards a grant, the grant recipient shall convey a perpetual preservation easement to the county planning board. Decisions by a county planning board concerning grants shall be made without regard to the financial status or annual income of the applicant. Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, a county planning board may require matching funds in whatever proportion the county planning board considers appropriate.

Each county planning board shall adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.

Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article does not apply to this subtitle.