Ch. 349

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(b)     There is a Universal Service Trust Fund created for the purpose of paying the
costs of maintaining and operating the program subject to the limitations and controls
provided in this subtitle. Moneys in the Universal Service Trust Fund shall be held in the
State Treasury.

(c)     (1) The costs of the program shall be funded by revenues generated by a
surcharge to be paid by the subscribers to switched local exchange access service and by
other funds as the budget may provide.

(2) The surcharge may not exceed 45 cents per month and shall be applied
to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange access service in the State. The
surcharge is payable at the time the bills for telephone service are due.

(d)     (1) The Secretary of the Department [of General Services] shall annually
certify to the Public Service Commission the costs of the program to be paid by the
Universal Service Trust Fund.

(2) The Public Service Commission shall determine the surcharge necessary
to fund the program and shall, on 60 days' notice, direct the affected telephone
companies to add the surcharge to all current bills rendered for switched local exchange
access service in the State.

(e)     The affected telephone companies shall act as collection agents for the
Universal Service Trust Fund and shall remit all proceeds monthly to the Comptroller for
deposit to the Universal Service Trust Fund. The telephone companies shall be entitled to
credit against these proceeds an amount equal to 1 1/2 percent of these proceeds to cover
the expenses of billing, collecting, and remitting the surcharge and any additional charges.

(f)     The Secretary [ of General Services] shall administer the Universal Service
Trust Fund [subject to the provisions for financial management and budgeting
established by the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning]. The income derived from
investment of money in the Fund shall accrue to the Fund.

(g)     The Legislative Auditor shall conduct postaudits of a fiscal and compliance
nature of the Universal Service Trust Fund and of the expenditures made for purposes of
this subtitle. The cost of the fiscal portion of the postaudit examination shall be paid from
the Universal Service Trust Fund as an administrative cost.

Subtitle 9. Telecommunications Devices for Disabled Individuals.
3-901.

(a)     In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)     "Board" means the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay
as defined under [§ 4-1004] § 3-804 of this article.

[ (c) "Department" means the Department of General Services.]

[(d)](C) "Program" means the program developed and administered by the
Department in consultation with the Board and the Governor's Office for

- 2312 -