Maryland Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments Section 13-513

      (a)      The Corporation is exempt from:

            (1)      State and local taxes;

            (2)      Title 10 and Division II of the State Finance and Procurement Article;

            (3)      Laws governing the State Personnel Management System under Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article;

            (4)      Title 10, Subtitle 5 of the State Government Article; and

            (5)      Article 31, §§ 9, 10, and 11 of the Code.

      (b)      The Corporation, its Board of Directors, and employees are subject to:

            (1)      The Public Ethics Law, Title 15 of the State Government Article; and

            (2)      The Public Information Act, Title 10, Subtitle 6 of the State Government Article.

      (c)      (1)      The Corporation may receive annual funding through an appropriation in the State budget.

            (2)      The Corporation may also receive funds for projects included in the budgets of State units.

            (3)      All unexpended and unencumbered funds appropriated to the Corporation shall remain with the Corporation for future uses.

            (4)      The Corporation shall conduct its financial affairs in such a manner that, by the year 2020, it shall be self-sufficient and in no further need of general operating support by the State.

            (5)      (i)      Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, in order to assist the Corporation in meeting the requirement specified in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the Governor may include each year in the budget bill an appropriation to the Corporation in an amount up to $5,000,000.

                  (ii)      If the State has provided a combined and cumulative total of $12,000,000 or less in fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2010 to the Corporation, the Governor may include each year in the budget bill an appropriation to the Corporation in an amount up to $6,500,000.

      (d)      The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Food Center Authority, the Maryland Economic Development Corporation, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, the Rural Maryland Council, and Maryland Cooperative Extension Service may provide technical and other support to the Corporation.

      (e)      Each unit in the Executive Branch of State government and each institution of higher education in the State may work with the Corporation on matters relating to the unit.

      (f)      Each county, municipal corporation, and regional planning and development council in the State may work with the Corporation on matters relating to the political subdivision or entity.