1. (a) There is a continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Subject to the appropriation process in the State budget, the Department shall use the fund:

      1. (i) For the costs of reviewing, processing, and auditing documents filed or requested under this article or other articles of the Code;
      2. (ii) To pay redemption or extinguishment amounts to former owners of ground rents redeemed or extinguished in accordance with § 8-804 of the Real Property Article; and
      3. (iii) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, for other costs incurred by the Department to administer the provisions of this article.
   2. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for fiscal year 2015 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department may not use the fund to pay more than 15% of the administrative expenses of the Office of the Director of the Department.
   3. (3) For fiscal years 2026 and 2027 only, up to $11,000,000 of the fund may be used each year for general operating costs by the Department.
3. (c) The State Treasurer shall hold and the State Comptroller shall account for the fund.
4. (d) The fund shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as other State funds.
5. (e) Investment earnings shall accrue to the benefit of the fund.

Added by Acts 2000, c. 324, § 2, eff. July 1, 2000. Amended by Acts 2003, c. 464, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, c. 480, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2014, c. 464, § 1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2015, c. 22, § 5; Acts 2024, c. 385, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2025, c. 604, § 1, eff. June 1, 2025.