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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-220" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Organization and Authority of Department Pertaining to Forests and Parks -- in General">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Fund” means the Park System Critical Maintenance Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Park System Critical Maintenance Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding for completing State projects that address critical maintenance concerns on lands managed by the Department for public purposes.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Secretary 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 State 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>Revenue distributed to the Fund under § 13–209(g) of the Tax – Property Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Interest earnings; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Fund may be used only for State park projects that address critical maintenance concerns on lands managed by the Department for public purposes.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The State 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 interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to 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>Money expended from the Fund for critical maintenance in the State’s parks is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for critical maintenance in the State’s parks.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <level label="1">
      <text>For fiscal year 2024 only, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a General Fund appropriation in the amount of  $70,000,000 to the Fund for State projects that address critical maintenance concerns on lands managed by the Department for public purposes.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall expend the funds allocated under this subsection before July 1, 2029.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>Notwithstanding § 13–109 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, the Department may expend up to $400,000 for a project that addresses critical maintenance concerns from the Fund without prior approval of the Department of General Services.</text>
  </level>
</section>
