Ch. 13                                     1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(5) It is the intent of the General Assembly that general funds appropriated for
FY 1996 to the programs specified which have not been disbursed within a reasonable
period, not to exceed 12 months from the end of the fiscal year, shall revert.

SECTION 26. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Secretary of the
Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning shall continue to provide a quarterly report to
the Department of Fiscal Services detailing agency spending for contractual salaries and
additional assistance.

SECTION 27. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED. That any budget amendment
to increase the total amount of special, federal or higher education (current restricted
and current unrestricted) fund appropriations made in Section 1 shall be subject to the
following restrictions:

(1) Budget amendments increasing total appropriations in any fund account by
$100,000 or more may not be approved by the Governor until (a) that amendment has
been submitted to the Department of Fiscal Services and (b) the budget committees or
the Legislative Policy Committee have considered the amendment or 45 days have
elapsed from the date of submission of the amendment. Each amendment submitted to
the Department of Fiscal Services shall include a statement of the amount, sources of
funds and purposes of the amendment and a summary of impact on budgeted or
contractual position and payroll requirements.

(2) Unless permitted by the budget bill or the accompanying supporting
documentation or by other authorizing legislation, a budget amendment may not:

(a) restore funds for items or purposes specifically denied by the General
Assembly;

(b) fund a capital project not authorized by the General Assembly provided,
however, that subject to provisions of the Transportation Article, projects of the
Department of Transportation shall be restricted as provided in Section 1;

(c) increase the scope of a capital project by an amount not to exceed 7.5%
or more over the approved estimate or by 5% or more over the net square footage of the
approved project, and until the amendment has been submitted to the Department of
Fiscal Services and the budget committees have considered and offered comment to the
Governor or 45 days have elapsed from the date of submission of the amendment. This
provision does not apply to the Department of Transportation.

(3) A budget may not be amended to increase a federal fund appropriation by
$100,000 or more unless documentation evidencing the increase in funds is provided with
the amendment and fund availability is documentation evidencing the increase in funds is
provided with the amendment and fund availability is certified by the Secretary of Budget
and Fiscal Planning.

(4)     No expenditure or contractual obligation of funds authorized by a proposed
budget amendment may be made prior to approval of that amendment by the Governor.

(5)     Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any federal, special, or higher
education fund appropriation may be increased by budget amendment upon a declaration

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