(a) The Board shall set reasonable fees for:
(1) The issuance and renewal of licenses; and
(2) The other services rendered by the Board in connection with physician assistants, including the cost of providing a rehabilitation program for physician assistants under § 14–401.1(g) of this article.
(b) The Board shall pay all fees collected under this title to the Comptroller of the State.
(c) (1) In fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2018, if the Governor does not include in the State budget at least $550,000 for the operation of the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants under Title 24, Subtitle 17 of the Health – General Article, as administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Comptroller shall distribute:
(i) $550,000 of the fees received from the Board to the office of Student Financial Assistance to be used to make grants under the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants under Title 24, Subtitle 17 of the Health – General Article to physicians and physician assistants engaged in primary care or to medical residents specializing in primary care who agree to practice for at least 2 years as primary care physicians in a geographic area of the State that has been designated by the Secretary as being medically underserved; and
(ii) The balance of the fees to the Board of Physicians Fund.
(2) In fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter, if the Governor does not include in the State budget at least $400,000 for the operation of the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants under Title 24, Subtitle 17 of the Health – General Article, as administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Comptroller shall distribute:
(i) $400,000 of the fees received from the Board to the office of Student Financial Assistance to be used to make grants under the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants under Title 24, Subtitle 17 of the Health – General Article to physicians and physician assistants engaged in primary care or to medical residents specializing in primary care who agree to practice for at least 2 years as primary care physicians in a geographic area of the State that has been designated by the Secretary as being medically underserved; and
(ii) The balance of the fees to the Board of Physicians Fund.
(3) If the Governor includes in the State budget at least the amount specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection for the operation of the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants under Title 24, Subtitle 17 of the Health – General Article, as administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Comptroller shall distribute the fees to the Board of Physicians Fund.