Unless otherwise provided by law, expenses incurred in carrying out the powers, duties and functions of the New Mexico medical review commission, including the salary of the director of the commission, shall be paid by the fund. The superintendent, in the superintendent’s capacity as custodian of the fund, shall disburse fund money to the director upon receipt of vouchers itemizing expenses incurred by the commission. The director shall supply the chief justice of the New Mexico supreme court with duplicates of all vouchers submitted to the superintendent. Expenses of the commission paid by the fund shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in any single calendar year; provided, however, that expenses incurred in defending the commission shall not be subject to that maximum amount.