2562

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 684

(2)  "FACILITIES" MEANS HOSPITALS AND RELATED
INSTITUTIONS WHOSE RATES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.

(3)  "NET STATE CONTRIBUTION" MEANS FOR EACH FISCAL
YEAR, ONE-THIRD OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND
APPROPRIATION FOR THE COMMISSION AND THE FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOCATED
TO THE COMMISSION GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATION FOR THE COMMISSION.

[(a)] (B) [(1)] The Commission shall assess and collect
user fees on facilities as defined in this section.

[(2) For the purpose of this section, "facilities"
means hospitals and related institutions whose rates have been
approved by the Commission.]

[(b)] (C) [The total user fees assessed in any fiscal year
Shall not exceed $1,000,000] THE TOTAL USER FEES ASSESSED BY THE
COMMISSION SHALL BE EQUAL TO TWICE THE NET STATE CONTRIBUTION.
THE TOTAL USER FEES ASSESSED BY THE COMMISSION MAY NOT EXCEED
$2,500,000 IN ANY FISCAL YEAR.

[(c) The total amount of user fees assessed shall be
reasonably related to the cost of carrying out the functions of
the Commission, including:

(1)  The compensation and expenses of the Commission,
its officers, agents, and employees;

(2)  The cost of retirement and pension contributions,
social security, health insurance, and other benefits required to
be paid by the State for the personnel of the Commission; and

(3)  Items of maintenance, services, and operational
expenses.]

[(d) The Commission shall fix the amount of user fees to be
assessed for each fiscal year after taking into consideration
federal funds available to the Commission by grant or contract
for that fiscal year.

(e)] (D) The Commission shall pay all funds collected from
user fees into the General Fund of the State.

[(f) (1) The Commission's budget for a fiscal year may
exceed the total user fee of $1,000,000; and

(2) The Department shall request any additional
budget support necessary for the Commission to carry out its
duties.]

[(g)] (E) The Commission shall:

(1) [Subject to the limitations on the amount of
assessable user fees provided in this section, assess each
facility that portion of the total amount of user fees that