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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-221" future_version_removed="true" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Organization and Authority of Department Pertaining to Forests and Parks -- in General">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Fund” means the Park System Capital Improvements and Acquisition Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Maryland Recreation Communication Boards Pilot Program” means the Maryland Recreation Communication Boards Pilot Program established under § 5–2B–03 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Park System Capital Improvements and Acquisition Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Completing State projects related to capital improvements on lands managed by the Department for public purposes;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Acquiring land to be managed by the Department for public purposes; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Maryland Recreation Communication Boards Pilot Program in accordance with subsection (n)(4) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Secretary shall administer the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Interest earnings; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Fund may be used only for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Completing State projects related to capital improvements on lands managed by the Department for public purposes;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Acquiring land to be managed by the Department for public purposes; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Covering the costs of purchasing and installing a communication board under the Maryland Recreation Communication Boards Pilot Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>Money expended from the Fund for capital improvements for State projects on lands managed by the Department for public purposes is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for capital improvements for State projects on lands managed by the Department for public purposes and the acquisition of land by the Department that will be managed for public purposes; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Intended to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Expand public access on lands managed by the Department; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Alleviate overcapacity within the State park system.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>For fiscal year 2024 only, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a General Fund appropriation in the amount of  $36,873,928 to the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>The first $70,000,000 received by the Fund may be used only as follows:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>At least $5,000,000 for infrastructure projects that mitigate the effects of climate change, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Flood barriers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Forest buffers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Green spaces;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Building elevation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Stormwater infrastructure;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Wetlands restoration; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Addressing environmental justice concerns;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At least $5,000,000 for historic preservation, in accordance with subsection (m) of this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>At least $20,000,000 for transportation improvements, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Improving bike lanes and trails, increasing walkability, and expanding parking availability; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Targeting transportation investments to avoid capacity shutdowns;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>At least $10,000,000 for increasing water access, including kayak and boat launches and areas for picnicking near water and swimming; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Up to $30,000,000 for land acquisition, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Areas in the central and southern regions of the State that will:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Relieve overcrowding at existing State parks; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Expand public access to State parks and outdoor recreation;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Sites of significance to the history of African American, Asian, Indigenous or Native American, and Hispanic or Latino populations in the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Beachfront or waterfront property for public access.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>Funding for historic preservation under subsection (l) of this section shall be used to provide grants to, participate in cooperative agreements with, or use other financial instruments to fund the rehabilitation of State–owned historic resources in the Maryland State Park System performed by a nongovernmental organization capable of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Project management;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Historic rehabilitation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Property development; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Public service corps management.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="n">
    <text>If the Fund receives more than $70,000,000, the Department may use up to $10,000,000 for any of the purposes identified under subsection (l) of this section, including:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Land activation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>New structures;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any capital improvements necessary to make State parks accessible to people with disabilities, including providing adult changing tables; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Up to $100,000 for the Maryland Recreation Communication Boards Pilot Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
