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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="3-215" title_number="3" title_name="Environmental Programs" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Maryland Environmental Trust">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is a Local Land Trust Revolving Loan Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Support the efforts of local land trusts that work with State and local governmental entities; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Provide revolving loans to land trusts on a rolling basis to assist the land trusts to purchase fee simple or easement interests in real property for conservation purposes.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Trust shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Administer the Program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Establish application procedures and eligibility criteria for Program loans.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the Trust approves an applicant’s request for a Program loan, the Trust shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Prepare the loan documents; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Establish the terms and conditions for the loan.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A land trust that receives a Program loan to purchase property in accordance with subsection (b) of this section shall repay the Fund:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>At a rate to be determined by the Trust, not to exceed one point below the prime interest rate; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>After the property is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Placed under a conservation easement; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Transferred to a State or local governmental entity.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Nothing in this section obligates a State or local government entity to accept or purchase from a land trust a conservation easement or transferred property purchased with a Program loan.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Notwithstanding subsection (d)(2) of this section, a land trust shall repay a Program loan and any accrued interest within 5 years after receiving the Program loan, unless the Board of Trustees approves an extension of time based on extenuating circumstances.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>If a land trust violates any provision of the loan documents or ceases to meet the requirements of this subtitle, on reasonable notice to the land trust, the Trust may exercise any remedy available under law, including any remedies provided for in the loan documents.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person may not knowingly make or cause to be made any false statement or report, including any understatement or overstatement of financial condition for a new loan or affecting a loan already made under this subtitle:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>In any application or in any document furnished to the Trust; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>For the purpose of influencing the action of the Trust on an application for financial assistance or for the purpose of influencing any action of the Trust affecting financial assistance whether or not such assistance may have already been extended.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any person, aider, or abettor who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or both.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
