HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                     1453

(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,
with the approval of the Board of Public Works, the Governor may
reduce, by not more than 25%, any [item of] appropriation that
the Governor considers unnecessary.

(b)  (1) The Governor may not reduce an appropriation to the
Legislative Branch or the Judicial Branch of the State
government.

(2)  The Governor may not reduce an appropriation for:

(i) payment of the principal of or interest on
the State debt;

(ii) public schools; or

(iii) the salary of a public officer, during
the term of office.

(3)  Except as provided in the Merit System Law, the
Governor may not reduce an appropriation for the salary of an
employee in the classified or unclassified service.

7-216.

(a) Subject to the limitations in this subtitle, an officer
or unit of the State government may spend an appropriation [to]
FOR A PROGRAM OF the officer or unit in accordance with the
current [schedule for apportionment and disbursement of the]
appropriation.

7-217.

(a)  [Subject to § 7-202 of this subtitle, an] AN officer or
unit of the State government may spend money [that is paid into
the State Treasury for the use of the officer or unit and] that
is derived from a source not estimated or included in the State

budget AND IS PAID INTO THE STATE TREASURY FOR A PROGRAM AFTER
AMENDMENT OF THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM:

(1)  for the specific purpose to which the money is
dedicated by State law or act of Congress; or

(2)  if the money is not dedicated to a specific
purpose, with the approval of the Governor, for necessary current
operations.

(b)  Money that is derived from a source estimated and
included in an appropriation act and that is in excess of the
estimate shall remain in the General Fund of the State until
appropriated by a subsequent appropriation act.

8-125.