(vii) (VI) The Board of the Maryland Higher Education Investment

Program.

(2) In consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, the
Commission shall present to the Governor, on or before a date set by the Governor,
and simultaneously submit a copy to the General Assembly, a consolidated operating
and capital budget for higher education that includes the operating and capital
budget requests of the governing boards and institutions listed in paragraph (1) of
this subsection, the operating budget request of the Commission, a report on the
current funding of the adopted sets of peer institutions, and recommendations
regarding the funding of higher education.

(3) In cooperation with the Department of Budget and Management, and
without affecting the authority or responsibility of the Department under the State
Finance and Procurement Article, the Commission shall:

(i) Review proposals for capital projects and improvements
proposed by the public institutions of higher education in this State, and by the
Maryland Independent College and University Association; and

(ii) Develop and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly
recommendations as to these projects, which shall be consistent with the [plan]
STATE PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION provided for in this section.

(4) In submitting recommendations pursuant to paragraph (2) of this
subsection, the Commission shall comment on the overall level of funding for higher
education IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS ESTABLISHED FN THE STATE PLAN FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION, and may comment regarding funding priorities among
segments of higher education and, within public senior higher education, among
institutions. In reviewing the various budgets and submitting recommendations
thereon, the Commission: 

(i) May not require, of any segment or institution, a detailed
budget presentation that tends to duplicate other presentations required! in the
budget process; [and]

(ii) As to the funding priority of any institution, may comment only
on the entity as a whole and not on any separate unit of the institution; AND

(III) AS TO THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS OF THE BOARD
OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND:

1. MAY REVIEW AND COMMENT ONLY WITHIN THE BROAD
CONTEXT OF THE STATE PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION; AND

2. MAY NOT DISAGREE WITH RECOMMEND AGAINST A
BUDGET ITEM APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS UNLESS THE ITEM IS CLEARLY
INCONSISTENT WITH THE STATE PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

(5) (i) In this paragraph, "higher education" means:

1. The University System of Maryland;