State Government - Attorney General - Office of the Attorney General Enforcement Recovery Fund - Establishment

HB 705 establishes a special, nonlapsing fund within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to support consumer protection, antitrust, and securities enforcement activities. The fund receives up to 25% of penalties exceeding $100,000 from consumer protection cases (e.g., violations of commercial law or corporate regulations), capped at $7.5 million annually. Money in the fund can only cover direct enforcement costs like investigations, technology tools, staff training, and public education - not victim restitution or general operating expenses. The fund cannot replace regular state budget appropriations, and any balance over $7.5 million must be transferred to the state’s general fund by year-end.