ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 429

Further provided that the Maryland
Department of the Environment (MDE)
shall submit a report to the budget
committees by November 15, 2004,
providing the following information:

(1)    Specific recommendations for
restructuring various MDE fees to
ensure that long-term structural
budget benefits are realized.
Strategies that should be considered
include indexing fees to the
Consumer Price Index, gauging fees
so as to not exceed program costs,
and expanding the allowable uses of
fee revenue.

(2)    A thorough description of potential
new fees that could substantially
reduce MDE's general fund reliance
in Water Pollution Control,
Administrative and Employee
Services, Technical and Regulatory
Services, and Coordinating Offices.

(3)    Detailed descriptions of existing fees
that could be increased to
substantially reduce MDE's general
fund reliance in Water Pollution
Control, Administrative and
Employee Services, Technical and

Regulatory Services, and

Coordinating Offices. This

information should be based on a

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

and updated estimates of specific MDE
annual operating cost savings resulting
from EEMS implementation. The budget
committees shall have 45 days to review
and comment upon the report. Further
provided, it is the intent of the General
Assembly that not more than the
$100,000 in federal funds be expended for
EEMS in fiscal year 2005, unless
additional funding is sought via budget
amendment or a deficiency budget.

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