(a)    In this section, “Fund” means the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund.

(b)    There is a Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund.

(c)    The purpose of the Fund is to provide loans to civilian employees of the federal government who are:

(1)    required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and

(2)    not being paid because of a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations.

(d)    The Maryland Department of Labor shall administer the Fund.

(e)    (1)    The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of this subtitle that shall be available in perpetuity for the purpose of providing loans in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(2)    The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

(f)    The Fund consists of:

(1)    money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;

(2)    any interest earnings of the Fund;

(3)    money transferred from the Catastrophic Event Account in accordance with § 7–324 of this subtitle;

(4)    repayments on loans made from the Fund; and

(5)    any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.

(g)    The Fund shall be used only to provide no–interest loans to civilian employees of the federal government who are:

(1)    required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and

(2)    not being paid because of a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations.

(h)    (1)    The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.

(2)    Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.

(i)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Maryland Department of Labor shall establish procedures and eligibility criteria for loans from the Fund.

(2)    The eligibility criteria shall include that:

(i)    the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations; and

(ii)    an individual applying for a loan from the Fund is:

1.    a civilian employee of the federal government;

2.    required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and

3.    not being paid because of the full or partial federal government shutdown due to the lapse in appropriations.

(3)    The procedures shall include:

(i)    application procedures;

(ii)    payment procedures from the Fund; and

(iii)    repayment procedures, including timelines, for an individual to repay a loan from the Fund.