2019 Maryland Code
Education
Division II - Elementary and Secondary Education
Title 5 - Financing
Subtitle 3 - State Aid for School Construction
§ 5-309. Reuse of recently used school designs; use of prototype designs.

    (a)    It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department and the Public School Construction Program encourage local education agencies to reuse recently used school designs, when educationally appropriate and cost effective over the useful life of the project, within each county and across local school system boundaries.

    (b)    (1)    The Interagency Commission on School Construction shall develop and provide incentives for local education agencies to use prototype school designs.

        (2)    The incentives to use prototype school designs may include expedited State review of projects.

    (c)    (1)    In this subsection, “net–zero” means that the total amount of energy used by a building on an annual basis is equal to or less than the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

        (2)    The Interagency Commission shall establish incentives for:

            (i)    The construction of net–zero school buildings; and

            (ii)    The use of energy efficient or other preferred materials in public school construction.

    (d)    The incentives established under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall be supplemental to and are not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated to local education agencies for school construction.

    (e)    Before the Interagency Commission may provide any incentives established in accordance with subsection (b) or (c) of this section, the Interagency Commission shall:

        (1)    Notify the budget committees of the General Assembly in writing of the proposed incentives; and

        (2)    Allow the budget committees 30 days to review and comment on the proposed incentives.