1. (a) The Secretary may designate an area as an arts and entertainment district only if the area is a contiguous geographic area that is wholly within:

   1. (1) a priority funding area as provided under § 5-7B-02 of the State Finance and Procurement Article; or
   2. (2) a qualified opportunity zone designated under § 1400Z-1 of the Internal Revenue Code in Allegany County, Garrett County, Somerset County, or Wicomico County.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Within 60 days after a submission date, the Secretary may designate one or more arts and entertainment districts from among the areas in the applications timely submitted.
   2. (2) A county may not receive more than one arts and entertainment district designation in a calendar year.
3. (c) The designation of the Secretary is final.
4. (d) At any time, a political subdivision may reapply to the Secretary to designate as an arts and entertainment district an area that is not so designated.

Added by Acts 2008, c. 306, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2008. Amended by Acts 2010, c. 164, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2019, c. 211, § 3, eff. July 1, 2019.