§16–603.

    (a)    (1)    There is a College of Southern Maryland, formerly known as the Charles County Community College, located in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties, Maryland.

        (2)    With other educational institutions, the College shall provide the services and programs described in § 10-210 of this article.

    (b)    The College is an institution of higher education of the State of Maryland.

    (c)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the College shall be classified as a “local educational agency (LEA)”, as defined in federal law, for purposes of federal subsidies, grants, contracts, and other programs of support for which a community college is eligible.

    (d)    Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties may appropriate money to pay the cost of operating the College according to the provisions of this article.

    (e)    (1)    Each southern Maryland county may borrow money to purchase land and construct capital improvements for the College.

        (2)    Money may be borrowed on terms and conditions the county commissioners consider proper, subject to any requirements of local law applicable to the creation of public debt.

    (f)    (1)    Unless otherwise agreed to by the county commissioners, the capital expenditures for each campus are the responsibility of the county in which the campus is located.

        (2)    The distribution of shared costs will be that of a regional community college as designated in § 11-105(j)(6)(i) of this article.