(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Animal Health Fund.
(b) There is an Animal Health Fund.
(c) The purpose of the Fund is to defray the Department’s cost of issuing orders or conducting site visits and animal testing to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases.
(d) The Department shall administer the Fund.
(e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.
(2) The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.
(f) The Fund consists of:
(1) Administrative penalties distributed to the Fund under § 3-116(c) of this subtitle;
(2) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;
(3) Any investment earnings of the Fund; and
(4) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.
(g) The Fund may be used only for defraying the Department’s cost of issuing orders or conducting site visits and animal testing to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases.
(h) (1) The Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.
(2) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.
(i) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.