CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

** SPECIAL NOTE: EFFECTIVE - OCTOBER 1, 2006 - CHAPTER 155 - 2005 **

      (a)      (1)      The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and the Department of Planning shall establish a Critical Farms Program.

            (2)      The purpose of the Program is to provide interim or emergency financing for the acquisition of agricultural preservation easements on critical farms that would otherwise be sold for nonagricultural uses.

      (b)      (1)      A county shall determine if a property qualifies for the Critical Farms Program in accordance with the criteria developed under paragraph (2) of this subsection.

            (2)      (i)      The Foundation and the Department shall develop criteria for counties to consider when determining whether a property qualifies for the Program.

                  (ii)      The criteria shall include:

                        1.      The qualifying strategic characteristics of the property, including location and productivity;

                        2.      The circumstances creating the risk of the property being sold for nonagricultural purposes;

                        3.      When applicable, the characteristics of the purchaser of strategic farmland seeking assistance from the Program;

                        4.      The consistency of the proposed acquisition with county goals and priorities and the county's priority preservation area; and

                        5.      Evaluation of the property as a priority easement acquisition.

      (c)      The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and the Department of Planning shall examine options for easement acquisition on critical farms and identify those that will enable the Critical Farms Program to succeed.

      (d)      The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and the Department of Planning may jointly adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.