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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="18-1917" title_number="18" title_name="Student Financial Assistance" subtitle_number="19" subtitle_name="Maryland 529 Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection and notwithstanding any other provision of law, an account holder or a qualified beneficiary may file a claim arising from the administration of the Trust with the State Treasurer, as fiduciary of the Trust.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A claim may be filed only by an account holder or a qualified beneficiary for an account that was open and existing on or after November 1, 2021, by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>An account holder; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A qualified beneficiary for a distribution that was made to the qualified beneficiary or to an eligible educational institution on the beneficiary’s behalf.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any claim brought under this section shall be subject to the exclusions and limitations set forth in this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A claim filed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall be filed:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>For a claim relating to the updated terms included in the disclosure statement for the Trust that went into effect November 1, 2021:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Not sooner than the date of the notice to account holders required by subsection (j)(2)(i) of this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Not later than December 31, 2023; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For all other claims, 1 year after the date the claim arises.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A claim under this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Contain a concise statement of facts that sets forth the nature of the claim;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>State the name, address, telephone number, and e–mail address, if any, of the claimant;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>State the Prepaid Trust account number to which the claim relates;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Contain any other information required to be set forth in a claim by any procedures or regulations adopted by the State Treasurer in accordance with subsection (j) of this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>State the name, address, telephone number, and e–mail address of the legal representative or counsel for the claimant, if any; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Be signed by the claimant, or the legal representative or counsel for the claimant.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the State Treasurer shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Investigate the claim;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Approve or deny the claim in whole or in part; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Notify the claimant, or the legal representative or counsel for the claimant, if any, in writing of the final determination.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In the exercise of the State Treasurer’s fiduciary duties, the State Treasurer may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Delegate, wholly or partly, this responsibility, provided that any delegate shall be a fiduciary with respect to making a final determination of a claim; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Contract for any support services that are needed to carry out this responsibility.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>For claims relating to the updated terms included in the disclosure statement for the Trust that went into effect November 1, 2021, to the extent practicable, the State Treasurer shall prioritize the processing of claims of account holders who:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Have sought distributions for qualified higher education expenses before June 1, 2023; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Will be seeking distributions for qualified higher education expenses for the fall of calendar year 2023.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Each final determination made by the State Treasurer in accordance with this section shall be made:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Independently and in the State Treasurer’s role as fiduciary to the Trust; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Solely considering the interests of all of the account holders and qualified beneficiaries under the Trust.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Acceptance of a settlement by a claimant:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>With respect to a claim brought in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section, shall be conditioned on an agreement of the account holder to transfer all funds in the account to any other qualified state tuition program; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is, as to that claimant and any qualified beneficiary of the account to which the claim relates:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Final; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A complete release of each claim arising from the administration of the Trust against:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The State;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Each of its units;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>All State personnel; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>The Trust.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The State Treasurer, as fiduciary of the Trust:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Makes the final determination with respect to claims submitted in accordance with this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is exempt from the provisions of Title 10, Subtitles 2 and 3 of the State Government Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>Any claim by an account holder or a qualified beneficiary arising from the administration of the Trust shall be made solely against the assets of the Trust.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section provides the exclusive remedy for a claim against the assets of the Trust.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>For claims brought in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section, establish procedures to implement the claim process established in this section for those claims; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>For all other claims, adopt regulations for the claim process established in this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall provide notice to account holders within 10 business days of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The establishment of the procedures described in this subsection; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The adoption of regulations in accordance with this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
