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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 13A.05.04.08" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="04" heading="County Library Capital Project Grants Program.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“LLA” means local library agency or county library system.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“MSL” means the Maryland State Library Agency.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Project completion” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Construction work has been completed in accordance with the contract documents;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The project architect has issued a certificate of completion;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The contractor has submitted the application for final payment; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The building has been accepted by the LLA.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Responsibilities of MSL. MSL shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Develop and administer a grant program for county library capital projects to provide a uniform and objective analysis of proposed capital projects and support projects that address the library needs in the State;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Evaluate and prioritize grant requests to provide a uniform and objective analysis of proposed capital projects, including the review of each applicant's library facilities master plan;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Review proposed county library construction grants and issue approvals that are specific to a definite project with a prescribed scope and cost; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Use the following criteria to evaluate capital project requests:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The public necessity and urgency of a project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The need for additional sources of funding for a project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The estimated cost and timeliness of executing a project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The viability of matching funds for a project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Geographic diversity; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Other factors that may give priority to a project.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Library Facilities Master Plan.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>By July 1 of each year, as a condition of receiving State project approval, each LLA shall submit to MSL or its designee:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Countywide library plan, which includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A mission statement;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A needs statement; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Multiyear goals and objectives; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Library facilities master plan, which includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A description of the capital project approved by the applicant's governing body;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>An updated and detailed capital improvement program for the following fiscal year; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A library capital improvement program for the following 5 years.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The annual and subsequent 5-year capital improvement program shall be consistent with the current library facilities master plan of record.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Capital Improvement Projects Grants Program.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>By July 15 of each year, an LLA may submit up to 3 applications to MSL to receive grants for capital projects for the next fiscal year.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An application shall include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A description of the scope and purpose of the project;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A building plan that includes the estimated total cost of the project, including matching funds; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any other information required by MSL.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>On or before October 1 of each year, MSL shall make a recommendation to the State Library Board regarding LLA capital project grants for the following fiscal year that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Identifies capital projects for funding approval; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Recommends a maximum State construction allocation for each project.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>On or before November 1 of each year, on approval of the State Library Board, MSL shall forward the list of approved LLA capital projects to the Department of Budget and Management.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>By December 1 of each year, each local library board shall submit documentation that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The local government has approved the LLA request for State funds and agreed to provide the required matching funds; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The requested State funding will be expended within the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the funds are requested.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Amendments to the State capital improvement program that a local library board considers necessary to submit during the course of the year shall be reviewed and approved by MSL and the State Library Board before an amendment may be implemented.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>State and Local Cost Share Formula.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The State share percentage for a county library capital project approved under this section shall be calculated by dividing the State share of the minimum program for a county calculated under Education Article, §23-505(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, by the library program amount for a county calculated under Education Article, §23-503(b), Annotated Code of Maryland, and multiplying this quotient by 1.25.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The minimum State share of a county library capital project is 50 percent and the maximum State share of a county library capital project is 90 percent of the project expenses that are approved by MSL pursuant to this regulation and Education Article, §23-502, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Grants under this program may not be for an amount less than $20,000.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Planning and Design of Capital Projects.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Land or buildings for a capital project shall be acquired by the board of library trustees or, in Montgomery County, the Department of Public Library Services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Architects and Engineers.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The plans, specifications, and related documents for each construction project shall be developed under the supervision and responsibility of a licensed architect or engineer.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The LLA shall select the architect or engineer.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The LLA shall notify MSL of the architect or engineer selected.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Grant Close-Out.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Within 180 days after project completion, the LLA shall submit a close-out summary to MSL using a form provided by MSL.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>MSL may conduct financial and procedural compliance audits.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Rescinding Funding Approval.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If, within 2 years after funding is made available for a project, no part of the project is under contract, MSL may determine the project to be abandoned and rescind the funding approval.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>When MSL rescinds funding approval, MSL shall transfer the allocation to the Statewide Contingency Account for the fiscal year in which the project was approved for funding.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Funds transferred to the Statewide Contingency Account may be used for any project approved in a future LLA capital improvement program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>After a project approval is rescinded, to be considered for reinstatement, the project shall be submitted as a new project request in a succeeding fiscal year's annual LLA capital improvement program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>MSL may approve a request to extend the allowable time for placing a project under contract if the extension is justified by unusual circumstances.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>