(a)The purpose of this section is to provide for development, support, and continuity of victim services programs to provide trauma–informed, high–quality services for victims of crime and to stabilize funding and support for victim services programs by supplementing federal funding for victim services programs when federal Victims of Crime Act funding fluctuates.
(b)(1) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall help support programs providing services for victims of crime throughout the State.
(2)The victim services programs shall be developed and located to facilitate their use by alleged victims residing in surrounding areas.
(c)(1) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy may award grants to public or private nonprof
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(a) The purpose of this section is to provide for development, support, and continuity of victim services programs to provide trauma–informed, high–quality services for victims of crime and to stabilize funding and support for victim services programs by supplementing federal funding for victim services programs when federal Victims of Crime Act funding fluctuates.
(b) (1) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall help support programs providing services for victims of crime throughout the State.
(2) The victim services programs shall be developed and located to facilitate their use by alleged victims residing in surrounding areas.
(c) (1) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy may award grants to public or private nonprofit organizations to operate the victim services programs.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the programs shall provide services to victims of crime as authorized by the federal Victims of Crime Act and related regulations.
(3) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy:
(i) may not require victim services programs to provide a match for State funds expended; and
(ii) shall ensure that State funds awarded under this section:
1. are administered in a unified process with federal Victims of Crime Act funds, with separate financial reporting as necessary to comply with federal and State regulations;
2. may be used as a match for federal Victims of Crime Act funds; and
3. may not be used for capital projects or capital programming of any kind.
(d) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall regularly consult, collaborate with, and consider the recommendations regarding allocation of funding from:
(1) the federally recognized State sexual assault coalition;
(2) the federally recognized State domestic violence coalition;
(3) the State alliance of child advocacy centers;
(4) State’s Attorneys’ offices;
(5) health care providers assisting victims of crime;
(6) civil legal services organizations assisting victims of crime; and
(7) representatives of organizations providing services to survivors of child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, homicide, or other victims of crime.
(e) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall prioritize continuity and stability of crime victim services and equitable distribution of funding in every jurisdiction in the State.
(f) (1) Money for the victim services 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) In each fiscal year, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation that, together with the amount received under the federal Victims of Crime Act in the prior year, totals an aggregate $60,000,000 for the victim services programs funded under this section.
(g) On or before December 31 each year, the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall submit a report on all victim services programs and grantees and funds awarded under this section to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.