Article - Health - General

19-207.1.

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Facilities" means hospitals and related institutions whose rates
have been approved by the Commission.

(b) The Commission shall assess and collect user fees on facilities as defined
in this section.

(c) (1) The total user fees assessed by the Commission may not exceed
[$3,000,000] $3,500,000 in any fiscal year.

(2) The total user fees assessed by the Commission may not exceed the
Special Fund appropriation for the Commission by more than 20%.

(3) The user fees assessed by the Commission shall be used exclusively
to cover the actual documented direct and indirect costs of fulfilling the statutory and
regulatory duties of the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle.

(4) The Commission shall pay all funds collected from fees assessed in
accordance with this section into the Health Services Cost Review Commission Fund.

(5) The user fees assessed by the Commission may be expended only for
purposes authorized by the provisions of this subtitle.

(d) (1) There is a Health Services Cost Review Commission Fund.

(2) The Fund is a special continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject
to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

(3) The Treasurer shall separately hold, and the Comptroller shall
account for, the Fund.

(4) The Fund shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as
other State funds.

(5) Any investment earnings shall be retained to the credit of the Fund.

(6) The Fund shall be subject to an audit by the Office of Legislative
Audits as provided for in § 2-1220 of the State Government Article.

(7) This section may not be construed to prohibit the Fund from
receiving funds from any other source.

(8) The Fund shall be used only to provide funding for the Commission
and for the purposes authorized under this subtitle.

(e) The Commission shall:

(1) Assess user fees for each facility equal to the sum of: