§ 4-516

(a) Subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Executive Director shall submit to the General Assembly a report on the domestic violence program annually.

(b) (1) In this subsection, “Fund” means the Victims of Domestic Violence Program Grant Fund.

(2) There is a Victims of Domestic Violence Program Grant Fund.

(3) The purpose of the Fund is to provide grants to public or private nonprofit comprehensive domestic violence programs certified by the federally recognized State domestic violence coalition.

(4) The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall:

(i) administer the Fund; and

(ii) establish procedures to award grants from the Fund.

(5) Grants may be used by programs certified by the federally recognized State domestic violence coalition for program operations, including establishing additional shelters.

(6) (i) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

(ii) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

(7) The Fund consists of:

(i) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;

(ii) any interest earnings of the Fund; and

(iii) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.

(8) The Executive Director shall attempt to secure funding for the Fund, including in–kind contributions, from:

(i) the federal government;

(ii) local governments; and

(iii) private sources.

(9) The Fund may be used only to provide grants to public or private nonprofit comprehensive domestic violence programs certified by the federally recognized State domestic violence coalition.

(10) (i) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.

(ii) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.

(11) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation annually of $5,000,000 to the Fund.