In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Subcabinet” means the Sustainable Growth Subcabinet. “Sustainable growth policy” means the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy set forth in § 5–7A–01 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

The General Assembly finds that the State is committed to addressing the high financial, social, and environmental costs of sprawl development through effective sustainable growth policy. The purpose of this subtitle is to establish a centralized office in the State in a manner such that the policy of sustainable growth can be better articulated, coordinated, and implemented in order to better serve the residents of the State.

There is a Sustainable Growth Subcabinet. The Subcabinet consists of: the Secretary of Agriculture; the Secretary of Budget and Management; the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Emergency Management; the Secretary of the Environment; the Secretary of General Services; the Secretary of Higher Education; the Secretary of Housing and Community Development; the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Neighborhood Revitalization; the Secretary of Natural Resources; the Secretary of Planning; the Secretary of Transportation; a representative of the Governor’s office; the Secretary of Health; the Secretary of Labor; and the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. The Executive Director of the National Center for Smart Growth Education and Research at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus shall serve as an ex officio member of the Subcabinet. The Secretary of Planning shall chair the Subcabinet and shall be responsible for the oversight, direction, and accountability of the work of the Subcabinet. The Secretary of Housing and Community Development shall be the vice chair of the Subcabinet. The Department of Planning shall provide the primary staff support for the Subcabinet and serve as its primary office. The Secretary of Planning may call upon any of the Subcabinet members to provide additional staff assistance as needed. The Secretary of Planning may establish subcommittees to carry out the work of the Subcabinet. The Subcabinet shall meet regularly at such times and places as it determines. The Subcabinet shall: provide a forum for discussion of interdepartmental issues relating to activities that affect growth, development, neighborhood vitality, and resource management; work together using all available resources to promote the understanding of sustainable growth; work together to create, enhance, support, and revitalize equitable and sustainable communities across the State; meet at least biannually with county and municipal elected leaders and planning officials to discuss local government issues relating to activities that affect equitable and resilient growth, development, neighborhood vitality, and resource management; subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, make recommendations to: the Department of Commerce in accordance with § 5–1304 of the Economic Development Article; the Department of Housing and Community Development in accordance with § 6–206 of the Housing and Community Development Article; the Department of Planning in accordance with § 5A–303 of the State Finance and Procurement Article; and the Department of Transportation in accordance with § 7–101 of the Transportation Article; in coordination with State agencies, evaluate and report annually to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, to the General Assembly on the implementation of the State’s sustainable growth policy; and perform other duties assigned by the Governor. The failure of the Subcabinet to make a recommendation under paragraph (1)(v) of this subsection may not be construed as prohibiting a department to act in accordance with the department’s authority under State law. The annual report required in subsection (h)(1) of this section shall include: a description of the projects, programs, and costs of activities located in priority funding areas; a description of projects, programs, and costs of activities funded under the exceptions allowed in § 5–7B–06 of the State Finance and Procurement Article; projects submitted to the Board of Public Works for funding outside priority funding areas under the extraordinary circumstances exception in accordance with § 5–7B–05 of the State Finance and Procurement Article and the impact of these projects upon the State’s sustainable growth policy; a list of programs and policies reviewed and changed to ensure compliance with the State’s sustainable growth policy; and a list of projects or programs approved and funded under Chapter 759, § 2 of the Acts of 1997.

In addition to any other powers and duties imposed by law, the Subcabinet has the powers and duties set forth in this section. The Subcabinet shall: review State assistance programs related to sustainable growth to determine their applicability, if any, to projects that are consistent with the State’s sustainable growth policy; promote interagency consensus and cooperation on projects that are consistent with the State’s sustainable growth policy and resolve conflicting agency positions on projects in an expedited manner; provide advisory and technical assistance to local jurisdictions and to the public in preparing, financing, and developing sustainable growth and neighborhood vitality projects; gather and disseminate information to the public, including local jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and developers on how to develop projects that are consistent with the State’s sustainable growth policy; provide a single point of access for members of the public, including local jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, developers, and community and homeowners’ associations who need assistance or guidance in navigating the processes and regulations of State agencies on projects that are consistent with the State’s sustainable growth policy; work with local governments in expediting review of projects that both the local government and the State agree are consistent with the State’s sustainable growth policy; provide effective public information on sustainable growth programs and educational activities, including relationships with the National Center for Smart Growth Education and Research at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus, and coordination of sustainable growth outreach efforts to local governments, the general public, and other interest groups; coordinate the efforts of the Executive Branch to provide input to the General Assembly on legislation that concerns sustainable growth and neighborhood vitality; and recommend to the Governor changes to State law and regulations necessary to advance the policy of sustainable growth.