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<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="23-205" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2034 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2024" title_number="23" title_name="Water, Sewers, and Drainage" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Subdivision Lines and Service Connections">
  <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 Connection Pipe Emergency Replacement Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Pipe” means a water or sewer service pipe connection located on a Commission customer’s property that connects from the Commission’s service connection to a customer’s residence.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Pipe” includes polybutylene pipes.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Program” means the Connection Pipe Emergency Replacement Loan Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Commission shall establish a Connection Pipe Emergency Replacement Loan Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to provide loans to residential customers to diagnose and finance the replacement of malfunctioning pipes.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Program shall include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>eligibility requirements for participation in the Program, including eligibility requirements for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>customers applying to receive a loan through the Program;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the type of connection pipe that is being installed to replace the existing connection pipe;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the type of malfunction and pipe replacement emergency that qualifies for the Program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the type of diagnostic action that qualifies for the Program;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a requirement that a customer receive notification or have certification that there is an active leak in the pipe that will be replaced;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>loan terms and conditions, including an interest rate repayment schedule and an administrative processing fee;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>a requirement that the replacement of malfunctioning pipes or a diagnostic action taken under the Program be performed by a plumber licensed by the Commission; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>a prohibition on the Commission replacing malfunctioning pipes under the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Program shall provide loans to customers on a first–come, first–served basis.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A loan made under the Program may not exceed $10,000.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A customer may not receive more than one loan at a time under the Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Program shall require a customer to repay a loan provided under the Program:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>through a separate charge on the customer’s water and sewer bill; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>by another method determined by the Commission.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission may not set a charge greater than an amount that allows the Commission to recover the costs associated with:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>financing the loan; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>administering the Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A person who acquires property subject to a charge under this section assumes the obligation to pay the charge.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a loan provided under the Program shall be a lien against the property on which a malfunctioning pipe has been replaced or a diagnostic action has been taken.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A lien under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall continue until the loan is paid in full to the Commission.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission shall be the sole holder of the lien established under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Commission shall record a lien established under this subsection in the land records of the county where the property is located.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A lien established under this subsection shall secure payment of a loan, including the principal, interest, late charges, cost of collection, and reasonable attorney’s fees.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Enforcement of a lien established under this subsection shall be in accordance with the Maryland Contract Lien Act.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A lien established under this subsection may not take priority over a lien, mortgage, deed of trust, or other security interest that is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>already attached to the property at the time the lien established under this subsection is recorded; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>given to secure a loan to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>purchase the property subject to the lien established under this subsection; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>refinance a loan that is already attached to the property at the time the lien established under this subsection is recorded.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The Program may not provide, or at any time have outstanding, more than $2,000,000 total in loans.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Commission shall include $200,000 annually in the Commission’s budget for the Program for fiscal years 2020 through 2034.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a Connection Pipe Emergency Replacement Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding for the Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Fund shall be administered solely by the Commission or the Commission’s designee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>money appropriated by the Commission from ratepayer funds only;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any investment earnings of the Fund; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The Fund may be used only for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>providing loans through the Program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the administration of the Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
