§ 11-923

(a) The General Assembly finds that an increasing number of sexual assault offense victims in the State:

(1) lack necessary counseling and follow–up services; and

(2) in some parts of the State, have only the help of extremely limited support services.

(b) The purpose of this section is to provide for sexual assault crisis programs that address the special needs of sexual assault victims.

(c) (1) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall help establish sexual assault crisis programs in the State.

(2) The programs shall be developed and located to facilitate their use by alleged victims residing in surrounding areas.

(3) The programs shall:

(i) provide specialized support services to adult and minor alleged victims of sexual assault crimes;

(ii) include a hotline and counseling service;

(iii) provide information to alleged victims of sexual assault crimes regarding:

1. criminal prosecutions of sexual assault crimes;

2. civil law remedies available to victims of sexual assault;

3. sexual assault evidence collection; and

4. victim rights; and

(iv) participate in the sexual assault response team in each county in which the program regularly provides services.

(d) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy may award grants to public or private nonprofit organizations to operate the sexual assault crisis programs certified by the federally recognized State sexual assault coalition.

(e) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall regularly consult, collaborate with, and consider the recommendations of the federally recognized State sexual assault coalition regarding sexual assault crisis programs and policies, practices, and procedures that impact victims of sexual assault.

(f) (1) Money for the sexual assault crisis programs shall be as provided in the annual State budget and shall be used to supplement, but not supplant, money that the programs receive from other sources.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, in each fiscal year the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of not less than $3,000,000 for the federally recognized State sexual assault coalition and sexual assault crisis programs funded under this section.

(3) In each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2019, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill submitted to the General Assembly a General Fund appropriation for sexual assault crisis programs funded under this section in an amount not less than the appropriation made for the sexual assault crisis programs in the immediately preceding fiscal year, increased by not less than the percentage by which the projected total General Fund revenues for the upcoming fiscal year exceed the revised estimate of total General Fund revenues submitted by the Board of Revenue Estimates to the Governor under § 6–106(b) of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

(4) (i) If a federally recognized State sexual assault coalition and sexual assault crisis program receive a new award of funds under the federal Victims of Crime Act for a purpose for which funds are appropriated under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Governor may reduce the appropriation required under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection by the amount received under the federal Victims of Crime Act.

(ii) The reduction authorized under this paragraph may not exceed 40% of the appropriation required under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.

(iii) The Governor may not reduce the appropriation under this paragraph if the funds received under the federal Victims of Crime Act have been awarded on or before June 1, 2017, or are awarded for continuation of services previously funded by the federal Victims of Crime Act.

(5) An appropriation made under this subsection shall be allocated as follows:

(i) at least $100,000 to the federally recognized State sexual assault coalition;

(ii) at least $100,000 to each of the sexual assault crisis programs provided for in subsection (d) of this section; and

(iii) the balance of the appropriation to be distributed to the sexual assault crisis programs provided for in subsection (d) of this section with each sexual assault crisis program receiving a proportionate share relative to the number of individuals who reside in the geographic area regularly served by the sexual assault crisis program.

(g) The Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall include a report on the sexual assault crisis programs in the annual report submitted by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.