§ 10-646.1. Financing the planning, design, and construction of racing facilities
West's Annotated Code of MarylandEconomic DevelopmentEffective: June 1, 2024
West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Economic Development (Refs & Annos)
Division II. Independent and Regional Development Units and Resources [Titles 9-End] (Refs & Annos)
Title 10. Statewide Development Resources and Revenue Authorities (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 6. Maryland Stadium Authority (Refs & Annos)
Part V. Restrictions on Bonds and Borrowing (Refs & Annos)
Effective: June 1, 2024
MD Code, Economic Development, § 10-646.1
§ 10-646.1. Financing the planning, design, and construction of racing facilities
(a) Except as allowed by § 10-639 of this subtitle, to finance the planning, design, and construction of any segment of a racing facility on behalf of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, the Authority shall comply with this section.
(b) At least 45 days before seeking approval of the Board of Public Works for each bond issue or other borrowing, the Authority shall provide, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, to the fiscal committees of the General Assembly
a comprehensive financing plan for the relevant racing facility that includes:
(c)(1) A bond issued to finance planning, design, and construction or renovations of or improvements to a racing facility:
(2) The issuance of a bond to finance the planning, design, and construction or renovations of or improvements to a racing facility is not directly, indirectly, or contingently a moral or other obligation of the State, the Authority, or any other governmental unit to levy or pledge any tax or make any appropriation to pay the bond.
(d)(1) In this subsection, “long-term agreement” includes a lease, operating, joint venture, or management agreement with a minimum term that coincides with or exceeds the initial term of the bonds issued for a racing facility.
(ii) 1. Unless thoroughbred racing is no longer a lawful activity, or is otherwise rendered not commercially viable as a result of a change in law or regulation, the long-term agreement under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection may not expire while any bond, debt, or other financial instrument issued by the Authority for the improvement of a racing facility remains unpaid.
2. If thoroughbred racing is no longer a lawful activity, or is otherwise rendered not commercially viable as a result of a change in law or regulation, the parties to the long-term agreement shall notify the Board of Public Works at least 180 days before the expiration or termination of the long-term agreement.
4. The long-term agreement required under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection shall contain dispute resolution provisions, including expedited review, in the event that there is a dispute among the parties regarding the existence of the conditions described in subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph or the contents of the wind-down plan.
(e) On behalf of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, the Authority shall enter into agreements with project entities or local entities for planning, design, and construction of the racing and community development projects at a racing facility site.
(f) For fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, until the bonds that have been issued to finance racing facilities are no longer outstanding and unpaid, the Comptroller shall deposit into the Racing and Community Development Financing Fund at least $17,000,000 from the State Lottery Fund under § 9-120(b)(1)(iv) of the State Government Article.
(g) If the money deposited in the Racing and Community Development Financing Fund in accordance with subsection (f) of this section is not needed for debt service or debt service reserves, the Authority may transfer those funds to the Racing and Community Development Facilities Fund.
Credits
Added by Acts 2020, c. 590, § 1, eff. June 1, 2020. Amended by Acts 2021, c. 109, § 1, eff. April 13, 2021; Acts 2024, c. 410, § 3, eff. June 1, 2024.
MD Code, Economic Development, § 10-646.1, MD ECON DEV § 10-646.1
Current through legislation effective through May 9, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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