(a) There is a Public Utility Regulation Fund.
(b) The Fund consists of:
(1) all revenue received through the imposition and collection of
assessments under § 2-110 of this subtitle;
(2) fees received by the Commission under § 2-123 of this subtitle for
filings and for other services rendered by the Commission;
(3) income from investments that the State Treasurer makes for the Fund;
and
(4) any other fee, examination assessment, or revenue received by the
Commission under this article.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall
pay all fines and penalties collected by the Commission under this
article into the General Fund of the State.
(d) The purpose of the Fund is to pay all the costs and expenses incurred
by the Commission and the Office of People's Counsel that are related
to the operation of the Commission and the Office of People's Counsel,
including:
(1) expenditures authorized under this article; and
(2) any other expense authorized in the State budget.
(e) (1) All the costs and expenses of the Commission and the Office of
People's Counsel shall be included in the State budget.
(2) Expenditures from the Fund to cover costs and expenses of the
Commission and Office of People's Counsel may only be made:
(i) with an appropriation from the Fund approved by the General Assembly in
the State budget; or
(ii) by budget amendment in accordance with § 7-209 of the State Finance
and Procurement Article.
(f) (1) The State Treasurer is the custodian of the Fund.
(2) The State Treasurer shall deposit payments received from the Commission
into the Fund.
(g) (1) The Fund is a continuing, special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject
to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, and may not
be considered a part of the General Fund of the State.
(2) Unless otherwise provided by law, no part of the Fund may revert or be
credited to:
(i) the General Fund of the State; or
(ii) any other special fund of the State.
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