(a)      (1)      The Governor shall appropriate at least $500,000 in the State budget each year to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund established under § 7-408 of the Courts Article.

            (2)      The appropriation to the Fund shall be in the State operating budget that is submitted to the General Assembly in the third week of January each year, or in any supplement to that State budget.

      (b)      (1)      To support the appropriation in subsection (a)(1) of this section or in addition to any appropriation in subsection (a)(1) of this section, the Governor may transfer to the Fund up to $500,000 on July 1 of each year from the portion of abandoned property funds deposited in the general funds of the State under § 17-317 of the Commercial Law Article.

            (2)      To the extent that the balance in the portion of abandoned property funds deposited in the general funds of the State under § 17-317 of the Commercial Law Article, after deducting all costs of administering the Fund, is less than $500,000, then only the balance may be transferred in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section.

      (c)      All moneys appropriated to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Fund under this section shall be used in accordance with § 7-408(g) of the Courts Article.

      (d)      Nonstate funds received by the Corporation shall be accounted for and reported as receipts and disbursements separate and distinct from State funds.

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