<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="4-209" title_number="4" title_name="Fish and Fisheries" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Organization and Authority of Department Pertaining to Fish and Fisheries -- in General">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Fund” means the Fisheries Research and Development Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Fisheries Research and Development Fund in the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Fund is to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Finance the replenishment of fisheries resources and related research; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Match federal funds available for research and development of fisheries resources.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department shall administer the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Any money received under this title for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Commercial licenses and permits;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Service fees, taxes, and royalties paid to the State for oyster shells and clam shells removed from the bottom beneath the tidal waters of the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The sale of seed oysters under § 4–1103 of this title; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Any fine or forfeiture collected under § 4–1202 of this title;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any investment earnings of the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Money received from any other source; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Money appropriated from the General Fund of the State in accordance with subsection (j) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Subject to §§ 4–701(q), 4–1020, 4–1028, and 4–1035 of this title, the Fund may be used only for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Replenishing fisheries resources and related research;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Matching federal funds available for research and development of fisheries resources; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Administrative costs calculated in accordance with § 1–103(b)(2) of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any investment earnings of the Fund may not be transferred or revert to the General Fund of the State, but shall remain in the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>Beginning with fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor may include in the budget bill an appropriation from the General Fund for the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <level label="1">
      <text>For fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a General Fund appropriation to the Fisheries Research and Development Fund of not less than $1,794,000.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Beginning in fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a General Fund appropriation to the Fisheries Research and Development Fund of not less than $1,794,000.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
