It is the intent of the General Assembly that the University of Maryland Global Campus: Operate as Maryland’s open university serving nontraditional students who reside in Maryland, the United States, and throughout the world; Provide the citizens of Maryland with affordable, open access higher education; and Continue as a leader in distributed higher education. There is a University of Maryland Global Campus which is not a new constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. As a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland, the University of Maryland Global Campus is an instrumentality of the State. The exercise by the University of Maryland Global Campus of its powers, including its overseas operations, is the performance of an essential public function. The provisions of § 12–105(a) of this article do not apply to the overseas operations of the University of Maryland Global Campus. The institution may spend the appropriation without the approval of the Board of Public Works and without submitting a detailed budget schedule to the Board of Public Works. The University of Maryland Global Campus shall prepare an annual financial information statement for the next following fiscal year and shall submit the statement to the Department of Budget and Management each year before October 1. The annual financial information statement shall include for the next following fiscal year: An estimate of the total revenues of the University of Maryland Global Campus, including revenues from tuitions, fees, gifts, grants, and interest income; An estimate of the value of services which the other units of the University System of Maryland and other State agencies provide to the University of Maryland Global Campus; and An estimate of the total cost of salaries and personnel benefits for employees of the University of Maryland Global Campus. The interest or income from the investment of the funds of the University of Maryland Global Campus by the State Treasurer shall be credited to the University of Maryland Global Campus. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance of the annual appropriation for the University of Maryland Global Campus, except any appropriation from the General Fund of the State, shall not revert to the General Fund of the State at the end of the State’s fiscal year. The University of Maryland Global Campus may: Purchase, lease, or rent motor vehicles for use in overseas programs; and Purchase, lease, or rent mechanical or electronic data or information processing equipment and related services for its overseas programs. Each year the University of Maryland Global Campus shall cause an independent certified public accountant to prepare audited financial statements of the University of Maryland Global Campus in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards accompanied by the auditor’s report on the statements. The provisions of § 12–105(f) of this article do not apply to the University of Maryland Global Campus overseas programs.

There is a Maryland Statewide Medical Education and Training System in the University of Maryland. The System includes the centers for training in comprehensive medical care specifically provided for in the State budget by funds designated and identified for the development of these centers. Each center shall be established cooperatively with an existing medical or educational institution in this State. The Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and each cooperating institution jointly shall appoint a director and faculty for each center. Each center shall appoint an advisory council to provide the highest possible degree of support and advice from the lay and professional communities. In cooperation with the director of the center and the staff of the cooperating institution, the University of Maryland School of Medicine shall plan, implement, and expand a medical education and training program at each center. The Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine is responsible for the fiscal administration of the program and shall review and approve the budget proposed by each center. The University of Maryland is responsible for: Selecting and assigning students to the centers; and Curriculum development and accreditation of the centers. The University of Maryland may assign to those centers that it believes have developed appropriate faculty, facilities, and primary care curricula: Third and fourth year medical students; Residency trainees; and Students who are in primary care programs of other health professions. The University of Maryland School of Medicine shall provide for periodic, systematic evaluation of the Maryland Statewide Medical Education and Training System. This section does not restrict any health care institution from starting or operating any training program jointly with any other person, whether or not the institution participates in this program. Any institution that participates with the University of Maryland under this section is free to engage in any other educational training programs.

There is a Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute in the University of Maryland. The head of the Institute is the Director. The Director: Shall report directly to the President of the University of Maryland, College Park Campus; and May adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out this section. The Institute shall: Provide classroom education and training for career and volunteer fire and rescue personnel, both at the Institute and throughout this State; Cooperate with other agencies that provide training for fire and rescue personnel; Train instructors; Prepare or adopt materials for training fire and rescue personnel; Develop new fire and rescue training techniques; Develop and implement specialized courses in fire fighting, including industrial fire fighting; Maintain statistics and records on fire and rescue education, training, and related matters; Develop programs to inform the public about the tasks performed by fire and rescue personnel; Establish guidelines for instructional material to school systems in the State concerning fire and rescue education; Provide disaster training for fire and rescue personnel; and Cooperate with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems to provide basic training for rescue personnel and emergency medical technicians. The Institute shall have the funds provided in the State budget.

In this section, “Fund” means the Small Business Development Center Network Fund. There is a Small Business Development Center Network Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to provide matching funds for federal grant funds and to support the operations of the Small Business Development Center Network in the University of Maryland, College Park Campus. The Fund is a special, continuous, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The proceeds of the Fund shall be invested and reinvested. Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State. The Fund consists of: Any money appropriated to the Fund; Any federal grant funds; and Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. Money in the Fund may only be expended to support the operations of the Small Business Development Center Network. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a General Fund appropriation of at least $1,150,000 to the Fund.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Fund” means the Sustainable Maryland Program Fund. “Program” means the Sustainable Maryland Program. There is a Sustainable Maryland Program. The purpose of the Program is to provide research, access to resources, technical assistance, and certification programs for municipalities to increase sustainability, protect environmental well–being, and ensure economic vitality. In carrying out the powers and duties granted under this section, the Program shall work in consultation and collaboration with institutions and organizations in the State, including: The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland; The School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at the University of Maryland; and The Maryland Municipal League. There is a Sustainable Maryland Program Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to expand and enhance Sustainable Maryland’s promotion and support of communities in the State in the effort to realize environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; Interest earnings; and Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund may be used only for: Offering training and education to ensure communities are well informed on advances in sustainability science, policy, and practice; Outreach and engagement to build local capacity and institutionalize sustainability efforts within communities, including: An annual sustainability conference; A peer–to–peer learning exchange; and Sustainable Maryland green team roadshows; Developing and expanding the Sustainable Maryland program; Improving green community certification tiers with new strategies and actions; Providing annual community innovation small grants to help communities pilot new innovative strategies; Recognizing community efforts toward achieving green certification; and Administrative expenses related to the Sustainable Maryland program. The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget. Money expended from the Fund for the Sustainable Maryland program is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for the Sustainable Maryland program. For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $500,000 to the Fund.

In this section, “Institute” means the Institute for Public Leadership at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus. There is an Institute for Public Leadership in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus. The School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus shall manage the Institute according to the policies of the University of Maryland. The purpose of the Institute is to: Enhance the teaching of public leadership through academic and executive programs that support a diverse range of populations, including undergraduate and graduate students, mid–career professionals, and executive level officials and staff; Provide students with opportunities for experiential learning with local, State, and federal partners; Support students, especially those underrepresented in public service positions, to access public leadership careers through partnerships, skill development, and professional mentorship; Build an active community of accomplished local, State, and federal practitioners associated with the Institute to share their knowledge and experience with students, faculty, and the public; and Serve as a resource for public leaders in the State and the nation through research on issues of current and emerging significance. For each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $1,500,000 to the Institute.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Program” or “TerpsEXCEED Program” means the University of Maryland, College Park Campus TerpsEXCEED (EXperiencing College through Education and Employment Discovery) Program. “University” means the University of Maryland, College Park Campus. For fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $350,000 for the TerpsEXCEED Program at the University. The funding provided under subsection (b) of this section may serve as a sustainable funding source for the management of the TerpsEXCEED Program to provide educational and employment opportunities to students with intellectual disabilities and to enable the Program’s future expansion. The funding provided under subsection (b) of this section may be used for: Advising and counseling students in the Program to assist with scheduling and registration for classes, outreach to professors, designing course modifications, providing in–class support and accommodations, and offering mentor tutoring; Advising and counseling students in the Program to assist with calendar management; Advising and counseling students in the Program to facilitate student club and activity choices; Training and communicating with resident assistants and resident directors in the Program; Offering courses in peer mentorship in the Program; Advising peer mentors in the Program; Offering courses in career development in the Program; Developing internship and job opportunities on and off campus, gathering supervisor feedback, and providing direct employment support, including goal setting and career planning for each student in the Program; Connecting students in the Program with State agencies that support individuals with disabilities; Managing the use of self–directed waiver budgets for on–campus supports in the Program; Managing financial aid systems for the Program; Sharing resources needed for post–Program support; and Facilitating a cross–agency, integrated resource team for each student in the Program and any other customized programming or direct counseling that supports the well–being of each student in the Program and fosters specific opportunities for self–determination.