Maryland Health Occupations Section 14-207

      (a)      There is a Board of Physicians Fund.

      (b)      (1)      The Board may set reasonable fees for the issuance and renewal of licenses and its other services.

            (2)      The fees charged shall be set so as to approximate the cost of maintaining the Board.

            (3)      Funds to cover the compensation and expenses of the Board members shall be generated by fees set under this section.

      (c)      (1)      Except for fees assessed in accordance with the provisions of § 14-402(e) of this title, the Board shall pay all fees collected under the provisions of this title to the Comptroller of the State.

            (2)      (i)      If the Governor does not include in the State budget at least $750,000 for the operation of the Health Manpower Shortage Incentive Program under § 18-803 of the Education Article and the Loan Assistance Repayment Program for primary care services under § 18-1502(c) of the Education Article, as administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Comptroller shall distribute:

                        1.      14 percent of the fees received from the Board to the Office of Student Financial Assistance to be used as follows:

                        A.      One-half to make grants under the Health Manpower Shortage Incentive Grant Program under § 18-803 of the Education Article; and

                        B.      One-half to make grants under the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program under § 18-1502(c) of the Education Article to physicians engaged in primary care or to medical residents specializing in primary care who agree to practice for at least 2 years as primary care physicians in a geographic area of the State that has been designated by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene as being medically underserved; and

                        2.      The balance of the fees to the Board of Physicians Fund.

                  (ii)      If the Governor includes in the State budget at least $750,000 for the operation of the Health Manpower Shortage Incentive Program under § 18-803 of the Education Article and the Loan Assistance Repayment Program for primary care services under § 18-1502(c) of the Education Article, as administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Comptroller shall distribute the fees to the Board of Physicians Fund.

      (d)      (1)      The Fund shall be used exclusively to cover the actual documented direct and indirect costs of fulfilling the statutory and regulatory duties of the Board as provided by the provisions of this title.

            (2)      (i)      The Fund is a continuing, nonlapsing fund, not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

                  (ii)      Any unspent portions of the Fund may not be transferred or revert to the General Fund of the State, but shall remain in the Fund to be used for the purposes specified in this title.

            (3)      Interest or other income earned on the investment of moneys in the Fund shall be paid into the Fund.

            (4)      No other State money may be used to support the Fund.

      (e)      (1)      In addition to the requirements of subsection (d) of this section, the Board shall fund the budget of the Physician Rehabilitation Committee with fees set, collected, and distributed to the Fund under this title.

            (2)      After review and approval by the Board of a budget submitted by the Physician Rehabilitation Committee, the Board may allocate moneys from the Fund to the Physician Rehabilitation Committee.

      (f)      (1)      The chairman of the Board or the designee of the chairman shall administer the Fund.

            (2)      Moneys in the Fund may be expended only for any lawful purpose authorized by the provisions of this title.

      (g)      The Legislative Auditor shall audit the accounts and transactions of the Fund as provided in § 2-1220 of the State Government Article.