Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has asked the legislature to approve $210 million over five years to help construct a major new hospital in Prince George's County.

The funding, contained in his proposed state spending plan released Wednesday, calls for $30 million in the upcoming year and the remainder through 2018. The 2014 funding would cover real estate acquisition and architectural designs, as well as minor improvements to Laurel Regional Hospital.

The amount is slightly more than the $200 million originally sought by hospital planners.

State funding, if approved, would be a crucial component to the public-private partnership now working to replace debt-ridden Prince George's Hospital Center and reform the county's broken health care system. Legislative leaders have said they are inclined to support the funding.