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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="8-2B-03" title_number="8" title_name="Waters" subtitle_number="2B" subtitle_name="Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership and Fund">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is a Whole Watershed Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of the Fund is to fund projects approved by the State management team under § 8–2B–02 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Secretary shall administer the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <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="e">
    <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Revenue distributed to the Fund from:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund established under § 8–2A–02 of this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Bay Restoration Fund established under § 9–1605.2 of the Environment Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The Clean Water Commerce Account established under § 9–1605.4 of the Environment Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Fund established under § 2–505 of the Agriculture Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The cost–sharing program established under § 8–702 of the Agriculture Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>The Waterway Improvement Fund established under § 8–707 of this title;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Interest earnings; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund may be used only to support actions associated with a project approved by the State management team under § 8–2B–02 of this subtitle, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>To satisfy match requirements of any federal source; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Matching with county, municipal, or private funds or in–kind support for a project.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, money transferred to the Fund under subsection (e)(1) of this section shall be subject to the conditions specified in the originating fund or account.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a portion of funds for an action may be provided as an advance payment at the beginning of each fiscal year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Any remaining funds not used to support an action in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be available for use consistent with this section in subsequent fiscal years.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <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="h">
    <text>Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Money expended from the Fund for projects approved by the Partnership is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for the Partnership.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>A contract entered into by the Department under this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Be consistent with the implementation and financing plan developed under § 8–2B–02(g) of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For an action involving stream restoration, require the use of a stream restoration contractor licensed under Title 18 of the Environment Article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Require that funds provided from the Fund be returned if the action is not completed in accordance with the implementation and financing plan.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an action that is partially financed with another source of State funds may be funded under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Funding provided to an action under this subsection shall be prorated to cover only the portion of the action not funded by another State source.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
