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<section article="gca" article_name="Corporations and Associations" number="1-203.3" title_number="1" title_name="General Provisions" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Fees and Recording">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is a continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the appropriation process in the State budget, the Department shall use the fund:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>For the costs of reviewing, processing, and auditing documents filed or requested under this article or other articles of the Code;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>To pay redemption or extinguishment amounts to former owners of ground rents redeemed or extinguished in accordance with § 8–804 of the Real Property Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, for other costs incurred by the Department to administer the provisions of this article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department may not use the fund to pay more than 15% of the administrative expenses of the Office of the Director of the Department.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>For fiscal years 2026 and 2027 only, up to $11,000,000 of the fund may be used each year for general operating costs by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The State Treasurer shall hold and the State Comptroller shall account for the fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The fund shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as other State funds.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Investment earnings shall accrue to the benefit of the fund.</text>
  </level>
</section>
