§ 9-913

(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund.

(b) (1) There is a Maryland Veterans Trust established for the purpose of providing monetary and other assistance to:

(i) veterans and their families;

(ii) members of the Maryland National Guard and their families; and

(iii) public and private programs that support veterans and their families.

(2) There is a Maryland Veterans Trust Fund.

(c) The Trust shall be a body corporate and shall have perpetual existence, subject to modification or termination by the General Assembly if necessary to effectuate its purpose or if its substantial purpose ceases to exist.

(d) The Fund consists of:

(1) gifts and grants that the Trust receives under § 9–914.2(a)(1) of this subtitle;

(2) contributions to the Fund from:

(i) the sale of tickets from instant ticket lottery machines under § 9–112(d) of this title;

(ii) the donations from video lottery facility players under § 9–1A–04(d)(19) of this title;

(iii) the designated fees from special registration plates for recipients of an individually earned, combat–related armed forces medal under § 13–619.1 of the Transportation Article; and

(iv) civil penalties collected in accordance with § 9–905.1 of this subtitle; and

(3) the net proceeds from contributions under the income tax checkoff established under § 2–117 of the Tax – General Article.

(e) Money in the Fund may only be used to:

(1) make grants and loans under § 9–914.2(a)(3) of this subtitle;

(2) be invested under § 9–914.3(b) of this subtitle; and

(3) pay the costs of administering the Fund through distribution to an administrative cost account in the Department.

(f) Money expended from the Fund is not intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated to the Department.