EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0694*
HOUSE BILL 694
P1 4lr4601
CF SB 482
By: The Speaker (By Request – Administration) and Delegates Allen, Amprey,
Anderton, Bagnall, Bartlett, Bhandari, Boafo, Bouchat, Boyce,
Charkoudian, Conaway, Crutchfield, Ebersole, Edelson, Fennell, Foley,
Fraser–Hidalgo, Grossman, Guyton, Harris, Henson, Hill, Hornberger, Ivey,
Jackson, A. Johnson, S. Johnson, D. Jones, Kaiser, Kaufman, Love,
McCaskill, Palakovich Carr, Pasteur, Patterson, Phillips, Pruski, Qi,
Roberson, Rogers, Ruff, Ruth, Simmons, Simpson, Solomon, Spiegel,
Stewart, Taveras, Taylor, Toles, Turner, Valderrama, Watson,
White Holland, and Williams
Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2024
Assigned to: Appropriations and Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Governor’s Office for Children – Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, 2
Unions, Governments, and Households (ENOUGH) Grant Program 3
(ENOUGH Act of 2024) 4
FOR the purpose of establishing the Governor’s Office for Children and the Special 5
Secretary of the Governor’s Office for Children as the head of the Office; requiring 6
the Special Secretary to establish the ENOUGH grant program, subject to certain 7
requirements; requiring the Office to assign certain staff for a certain purpose; 8
establishing certain reporting and evaluation requirements; establishing the 9
ENOUGH Grant Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring interest earnings of 10
the Fund to be credited to the Fund; and generally relating to the Governor’s Office 11
for Children. 12
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
Article – State Finance and Procurement 14
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 18
Article – State Finance and Procurement 19
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)189. and 190. 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21 2 HOUSE BILL 694
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 1
BY adding to 2
Article – State Finance and Procurement 3
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)191. 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 6
BY adding to 7
Article – State Government 8
Section 9–2801 through 9–2805 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 28. Governor’s 9
Office for Children” 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
6–226. 16
(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 17
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 18
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 19
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 20
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 21
Fund of the State. 22
(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 23
to the following funds: 24
189. the Teacher Retention and Development Fund; [and] 25
190. the Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant Fund; AND 26
191. THE ENOUGH GRANT FUND. 27
Article – State Government 28
SUBTITLE 28. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN. 29
9–2801. 30
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 31
INDICATED. 32 HOUSE BILL 694 3
(B) (1) “FISCAL AGENT ” MEANS AN ENTITY THAT MANAGES FISCAL 1
MATTERS FOR THE GRAN T APPLICANT OR GRANT RECIPIENT. 2
(2) “FISCAL AGENT ” INCLUDES A NONPROFIT ENTITY, LOCAL 3
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY , OR LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD. 4
(C) “FUND” MEANS THE ENOUGH GRANT FUND. 5
(D) “LEAD PARTNER ” MEANS A NONPROFIT OR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY 6
THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING ACR OSS PARTNER ORGANIZA TIONS AND 7
DRIVING PLAN IMPLEME NTATION FOR TH E GRANT APPLICANT OR GRANT 8
RECIPIENT. 9
(E) “OFFICE” MEANS THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN. 10
(F) (1) “PARTNER ORGANIZATION ” MEANS AN ENTITY PART ICIPATING IN 11
AN ENOUGH GRANT PARTNERSHIP . 12
(2) “PARTNER ORGANIZATION ” INCLUDES: 13
(I) A LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ; 14
(II) A UNION OR WORKER OR GANIZATION; 15
(III) AN ANCHOR INSTITUTIO N, INCLUDING LOCAL HEAL TH CARE 16
ORGANIZATIONS , INSTITUTIONS OF HIGH ER EDUCATION , LOCAL SCHOOL 17
DISTRICTS, WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARDS, OR LOCAL CARE MANAGE MENT 18
TEAMS; 19
(IV) A SMALL BUSINESS OWN ER OR ORGANIZATION ; 20
(V) A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEM ENT AGENCY; AND 21
(VI) A FAITH–BASED ORGANIZATION . 22
(G) “SPECIAL SECRETARY” MEANS THE SPECIAL SECRETARY OF THE 23
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN. 24
9–2802. 25
(A) THERE IS A GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN. 26
4 HOUSE BILL 694
(B) THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE IS THE SPECIAL SECRETARY OF THE 1
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN. 2
9–2803. 3
(A) (1) SUBJECT TO THE REQUIR EMENTS OF THIS SECTI ON, THE SPECIAL 4
SECRETARY SHALL ESTAB LISH AN ENOUGH GRANT PROGRAM DESIGN ED TO 5
ADVANCE PLACE –BASED STRATEGIES TAR GETING CHILD POVERTY . 6
(2) THE PROGRAM ESTABLISH ED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 7
SUBSECTION MAY INCLU DE: 8
(I) A PHASED APPROACH TO GRANT AWARDS ; AND 9
(II) TIERS OF GRANT AWARD S. 10
(B) THE PURPOSE OF ENOUGH GRANTS MAD E BY THE OFFICE UNDER 11
THIS SECTION IS TO: 12
(1) INCREASE COMMUNITY H EALTH AND SAFETY ; 13
(2) PROVIDE “CRADLE TO CAREER ” ACCESS TO HIGH –QUALITY 14
EDUCATION AND CARE ; 15
(3) CONNECT RESIDENTS TO QUALITY JOBS AND IN –DEMAND 16
OCCUPATIONS ; 17
(4) ENABLE FAMILY –SUSTAINING INCOME AND A CCESS TO 18
AFFORDABLE HIGH –QUALITY HOUSING , CHILD CARE , AND HEALTH CARE , 19
INCLUDING REPRODUCTI VE, MATERNAL, BEHAVIORAL , AND MENTAL HEALTH CA RE; 20
AND 21
(5) PROVIDE HIGH –QUALITY SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH 22
DISABILITIES, CHILD WELFARE , AND JUST ICE–INVOLVED YOUTH AND Y OUNG 23
ADULTS. 24
(C) THE OFFICE MAY AWARD ENOUGH GRANTS FOR: 25
(1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT DEVELOPME NT OF GRANT 26
APPLICATIONS; 27
(2) NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLEME NTATION GRANTS TO SU PPORT 28
IMPLEMENTATION OF CO MMUNITY–DRIVEN AND PLACE–BASED STRATEGIES ; 29 HOUSE BILL 694 5
(3) REGIONAL IMPLEMENTAT ION GRANTS OF UP TO $500,000 EACH 1
YEAR FOR UP TO 3 YEARS FOR REGIONAL N ONPROFIT ENTITIES AN D LOCAL 2
GOVERNING BODIES , INCLUDING LOCAL MANA GEMENT BOARDS , TO SUPPORT 3
ENOUGH APPLICANTS WITHIN TH EIR JURISDICTIO N TO IMPLEMENT COMPO NENTS 4
OF COMMUNITY –DRIVEN, PLACE–BASED STRATEGIES ; AND 5
(4) PLANNING GRANTS OF U P TO $300,000 FOR COMMUNITIES THAT 6
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL T IME TO BUILD LOCAL O RGANIZATIONAL CAPACI TY TO 7
SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE A COORDINATED STRATE GY. 8
(D) AN APPLICANT IS ELIGIBL E FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLEMENTATION 9
GRANT UNDER SUBSECTI ON (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION IF T HE APPLICANT: 10
(1) SERVES A COMMUNITY T HAT INCLUDES CENSUS TRACTS WITH 11
MORE THAN 20% OF CHILDREN LIVING I N POVERTY; AND 12
(2) REPRESENTS A PARTNER SHIP THAT INCLUDES A T LEAST ONE 13
COMMUNITY –BASED ORGANIZATION , ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL , AND ONE LOCAL 14
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY AND HAS IDENTIFIED : 15
(I) A LEAD PARTNER ; AND 16
(II) A FISCAL AGENT. 17
(E) A NEIGHBORHOOD IMPLEME NTATION GRANT RECIPI ENT MAY: 18
(1) DESIGNATE THE LEAD PARTN ER TO SERVE AS THE F ISCAL AGENT; 19
AND 20
(2) IF THE LEAD PARTNER DOES NOT HAVE EXPERT ISE IN DATA USE, 21
PARTNER WITH AN ADDI TIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH THAT EXPERTISE . 22
(F) THE OFFICE SHALL ATTEMPT TO AWARD NEIGHBORHOO D 23
IMPLEMENTATION GRANT S UNDER SUBSECTION (C)(2) OF THIS SECTION IN A 24
MANNER THAT REFLECTS THE GEOGRAPHIC DIVER SITY OF THE STATE. 25
(G) (1) THE OFFICE SHALL ASSIGN A T LEAST ONE STAFF PE RSON TO 26
EACH PARTNERSHIP THA T RECEIVES A NEIGHBO RHOOD IMPLEMENTATION GRANT. 27
(2) A STAFF PERS ON ASSIGNED TO A PAR TNERSHIP UNDER 28
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL: 29
6 HOUSE BILL 694
(I) ASSIST THE PARTNERSH IP WITH NAVIGATING F EDERAL, 1
STATE, AND PRIVATE FUNDING STREAMS; AND 2
(II) SERVE AS A LIAISON F OR THE PARTNERSHIP A ND STATE 3
GOVERNMENT . 4
(H) THE OFFICE MAY CONSULT WITH E NTITIES THAT IT DEEM S RELEVANT 5
TO SUPPORT ENOUGH PARTNERSHIPS . 6
9–2804. 7
(A) THE OFFICE MAY APPLY FOR , RECEIVE, AND SPEND GRANTS –IN–AID BY 8
THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT OR ANY OF ITS AGE NCIES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR , OR 9
ANY OTHER FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE FOR USE IN CAR RYING OUT 10
THE POWERS AND DUTIE S OF THE SPECIAL SECRETARY OR THE OFFICE. 11
(B) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2025 AND IN EACH FISCAL Y EAR 12
THEREAFTER , THE OFFICE SHALL PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ENOUGH 13
GRANT PROGRAM THAT I NCLUDES: 14
(1) ACCOUNTING OF FINANC IAL RECEIPTS AND EXP ENDITURES; AND 15
(2) PROGRESS AND OUTCOME METRICS AS DEFINED B Y THE OFFICE. 16
(C) (1) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 2027, THE OFFICE SHALL CONDUCT AN 17
EVALUATION OF THE ENOUGH GRANT PROGRAM AND RE PORT ITS FINDING S TO 18
THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE , THE 19
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 20
(2) THE REPORT MADE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 21
SHALL INCLUDE AN ANA LYSIS OF: 22
(I) THE PROGRESS MADE IN JURISDICTIONS RECEIV ING 23
ENOUGH GRANTS BASED ON THE OUTCOME METRI CS PRODUCED BY THE G RANT 24
RECIPIENTS; 25
(II) THE IMPACT OF PROGRA M ACTIVITIES WITH RE SPECT TO 26
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN LIVING I N POVERTY; AND 27
(III) POLICY CHANGES ENACT ED AT THE STATE AND LOCAL 28
LEVEL DESIGNED TO EN ABLE BETTER COORDINATION AND EFFICACY. 29
9–2805. 30 HOUSE BILL 694 7
(A) THERE IS AN ENOUGH GRANT FUND. 1
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO SUPPORT ENOUGH GRANTS MADE 2
BY THE OFFICE UNDER § 9–2803 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 3
(C) THE SPECIAL SECRETARY SHALL ADMIN ISTER THE FUND. 4
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 5
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 6
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 7
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 8
(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 9
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED I N THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 10
(2) INTEREST EARNINGS ; AND 11
(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 12
THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 13
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR ENOUGH GRANTS MADE UNDER § 14
9–2803 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 15
(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND 16
IN THE SAME MANNER A S OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 17
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO 18
THE FUND. 19
(H) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 20
WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 21
(I) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE 22
ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $15,000,000 TO THE FUND. 23
(J) AN APPROPRIATION MADE UNDER SUBSECTION (I) OF THIS SECTION IS 24
SUPPLEMENTAL TO AND NOT INTENDED TO TAK E THE PLACE OF ANY F EDERAL 25
FUNDING RECEIVED FOR PLACE–BASED SUPPORT . 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 27
1, 2024. 28 8 HOUSE BILL 694