Section 4-410.1 - Reduction of bird collisions(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2) "Acquired" does not include a building leased by the State.(3) "State building" means: (i) a building acquired through any means by the State for use by a State agency or department;(ii) a building constructed or renovated by or for the State for occupancy by a State agency or department; or(iii) a building acquired, constructed, or renovated for which more than 50% of the money for the acquisition, construction, or renovation came from State funds.(b) This section does not apply to:(1) a public work contract of less than $500,000;(2) a public work contract for which 50% or less of the funds used for the project are State funds;(3) a project for which funding is provided in the capital budget as a grant to a nonprofit organization; or(4) a public school construction project.(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the Department shall establish standards for State buildings to conserve energy and minimize adverse impacts on birds that are consistent with the U.S. Green Building Council's Innovation Credit for reducing bird collisions and the American Bird Conservancy bird-friendly design recommendations.(2) The Department shall update the standards developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection every 5 years.(3) The standards developed under this subsection shall specify that, except where full operation of building lighting is documented as necessary, including for public safety or other purposes, interior and exterior lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized from midnight to dawn each day:(i) from March 1 through May 31, both inclusive; and(ii) from August 1 through October 31, both inclusive.(4) The standards established under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not include a requirement for bird collision monitoring.(5) The Department shall consider the physical health and mental health of building occupants when developing or updating standards under paragraph (1) of this subsection.(d) Each State building constructed, substantially altered, or acquired by the State shall meet, to the extent practicable and within budgetary constraints as determined by the Department, the standards established under subsection (c) of this section.(e) The Department shall reduce the lighting of existing State buildings, to the extent practicable and within budgetary constraints as determined by the Department: (1) in accordance with subsection (c)(3) of this section; and(2) by using automatic control technologies, which may include timers, photosensors, infrared detectors, and motion detectors.(f)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Maryland Green Building Council shall include the standards established under this section in requirements that the Council establishes for the Maryland High Performance Green Building Program.(2) Standards included in the Maryland High Performance Green Building Program under this subsection shall apply only to State buildings as defined in this section.(g) The Secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 581, Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2023.