EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0172*
HOUSE BILL 172
C9 5lr0146
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 188
By: Chair, Environment and Transportation Committee (By Request –
Departmental – Housing and Community Development)
Requested: October 6, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 18, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program and Fund – Alterations 2
FOR the purpose of altering the projects eligible for funding under the Community Health 3
and Safety Works Grant Program; altering the applicants eligible to apply for 4
funding for certain projects under the Program; altering requirements for projects to 5
purchase or install license readers; repealing certain requirements for projects to 6
purchase or install camera networks; repealing minimum and maximum grant 7
amounts under the Program; expanding the authorized uses of the Community 8
Health and Safety Works Grant Program Fund to include certain administrative and 9
operating expenses of the Department of Housing and Community Development; and 10
generally relating to the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program and 11
Fund. 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Housing and Community Development 14
Section 6–1301, 6–1304, and 6–1307 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
BY repealing 18
Article – Housing and Community Development 19
Section 6–1305 and 6–1306 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21 2 HOUSE BILL 172
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Housing and Community Development 4
6–1301. 5
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 6
(b) “Eligible project” means: 7
(1) [a facility and community improvement project] A COMMUNITY OR 8
BUSINESS DISTRICT IM PROVEMENT PROJECT as defined in § 6–1304 of this subtitle; 9
(2) [a business district and neighborhood security project as defined in § 10
6–1305 of this subtitle; or 11
(3)] a community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention 12
project as defined in [§ 6–1306] § 6–1304 of this subtitle; OR 13
(3) ANY OTHER CATEGORY O F PROJECT IDENTIFIED BY THE 14
SECRETARY AS A RECOGN IZED CRIME PREVENTIO N STRATEGY DESIGNED TO 15
ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTA L, HEALTH, OR SAFETY CONCERNS I N COMMERCIAL , 16
PUBLIC, OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS . 17
(c) “Program” means the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program. 18
6–1304. 19
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
(2) “COMMUNITY–CENTERED CRIME AND V IOLENCE INTERVEN TION 21
AND PREVENTION PROJE CT” MEANS A COMPREHENSIV E STRATEGY THAT 22
INTEGRATES PARTNERSH IPS AND COORDINATED ACTIVITIES THAT: 23
(I) DIRECTLY ENGAGE INDI VIDUALS WHO ARE AT R ISK OF 24
BECOMING INVOLVED WI TH OR AFFECTED BY VI OLENCE AND CRIME USI NG 25
EVIDENCE–BASED INTERVENTIONS ; AND 26
(II) REDUCE CRIME AND DIS ORDER BY CAREFULLY E XAMINING 27
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PROBLEMS IN NEIGH BORHOODS AND APPLYIN G 28
APPROPRIATE PROBLEM –SOLVING REMEDIES . 29
HOUSE BILL 172 3
(3) (I) “COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT 1
PROJECT” MEANS A PHYSICAL PROJECT OR COMMUNITY SERVICE TH AT: 2
1. MAKES A FACILITY , A COMMUNITY , A COMMUNITY 3
OPEN SPACE, A RESIDENTIAL STREET , OR A COMMERCIAL CORR IDOR SAFER FOR 4
COMMUNITY USE ; 5
2. SUPPORTS COMMUNITY –LED EFFORTS TO IMPRO VE 6
THE APPEARANCE OF A FACILITY, A COMMUNITY , A COMMUNITY OPEN SPA CE, A 7
RESIDENTIAL STREET , OR A COMMERCIAL CORR IDOR; 8
3. ELIMINATES PREDATORY OR UNHEALTHY 9
PRACTICES, SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMP ING, LITTERING, OR ENVIRONMENTAL OR 10
TRAFFIC HAZARDS ; OR 11
4. MITIGATES THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND 12
OTHER CONDITIONS REL ATED TO CLIMATE CHAN GE. 13
(II) “COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT 14
PROJECT” INCLUDES THE PURCHAS E OR INSTALLATION OF : 15
1. SECURITY CAMERAS , LICENSE READERS , OR 16
ADEQUATE LIGHTING FO R OUTDOOR SPACES AND COMMON AREAS; 17
2. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTU RAL DESIGN FEATURES , 18
INCLUDING SIGNS , GARDENS, PAVING TREATMENTS , PLANTINGS, OR OTHER 19
UPGRADES TO PUBLIC S PACES; 20
3. CONTRACTED LAND ENHA NCEMENT OR 21
GROUNDSKEEPING SERVI CES TO MAINTAIN OR C LEAN OPEN SPACES ; 22
4. CONTRACTED CLEANING OR LANDSCAPING SERVICES 23
OR EQUIPMENT TO MAIN TAIN OR CLEAN OPEN S PACES; 24
5. CONTRACTED LOCAL PRI VATE SECURITY SERVIC ES 25
OR SIMILAR COMMUNITY –BASED PROGRAMS WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON 26
DE–ESCALATION AND RELAT IONSHIP BUILDING ; AND 27
6. TRAFFIC CALMING MEAS URES THAT INCREASE 28
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY . 29
[(2)] (4) “Eligible applicant” means: 30
4 HOUSE BILL 172
(I) a tax–exempt nonprofit organization; 1
(II) A GOVERNMENTAL UNIT OF A POLITICAL SUBDI VISION; OR 2
(III) AN INSTITUTION OF HI GHER EDUCATION IN 3
COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD A SSOCIATION. 4
[(3) (i) “Facility and community improvement project” means a physical 5
project or a community service that: 6
1. makes a facility or a community–managed open space 7
safer for residents and visitors; 8
2. encourages the authorized uses of a facility or a 9
community–managed open space by individuals; or 10
3. supports community–led efforts to improve the 11
appearance of a facility or a community–managed open space. 12
(ii) “Facility and community improvement project” includes: 13
1. the purchase or installation of: 14
A. equipment that increases the visibility of vulnerable 15
spaces, including surveillance tools or adequate lighting for exterior doors, common areas, 16
or hallways; or 17
B. landscape architectural design features, including signs, 18
gardens, paving treatments, plantings, or other upgrades to public spaces; 19
2. efforts to: 20
A. improve sight lines within, increase visitation to, or clean 21
public spaces; or 22
B. integrate landscape architectural design features into a 23
facility or a community–managed open space in a manner that connects adjacent 24
neighborhoods for various users while distancing the users from private areas; 25
3. timely removal of graffiti and use of graffiti resistance 26
practices in collaboration with a person who specializes in the area of graffiti removal 27
services to present a vibrant, maintained space; and 28
4. contracted land enhancement or groundskeeping services 29
to maintain or clean open spaces and functional surfaces.] 30
HOUSE BILL 172 5
(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for [a facility 1
and community]: 2
(1) A COMMUNITY OR BUSIN ESS DISTRICT improvement project; 3
(2) A COMMUNITY –CENTERED CRIME AND V IOLENCE INTERVENTION 4
AND PREVENTION PROJECT; OR 5
(3) ANY OTHER ELIGIBLE P ROJECT. 6
(c) If an eligible applicant submits an application for a grant under the Program 7
for a [facility and community improvement] project to purchase or install [a network of 8
cameras or] license readers, the eligible applicant shall include with the application[: 9
(1) a monitoring plan; 10
(2)] evidence of a partnership with law enforcement[, the governmental 11
unit responsible for traffic enforcement for the political subdivision,] and any other relevant 12
public agencies[; and 13
(3) a list of possible locations of cameras and license readers and a plan for 14
providing notice of locations to property owners]. 15
(d) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 16
application for financial assistance under the Program for [a facility and community 17
improvement] AN ELIGIBLE project a grant IN AN AMOUNT DETERMI NED BY THE 18
DEPARTMENT [that: 19
(1) is at least $25,000; and 20
(2) does not exceed $50,000]. 21
[6–1305. 22
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
(2) (i) “Business district and neighborhood security project” means a 24
comprehensive plan for enhancing the visual perception of safety along commercial 25
corridors and adjacent areas. 26
(ii) “Business district and neighborhood security project” includes: 27
1. the purchase or installation of: 28
6 HOUSE BILL 172
A. equipment that increases the visibility of vulnerable 1
spaces, including surveillance tools, adequate lighting for exterior doors, common areas, or 2
hallways, or pedestrian–scale street lighting in high–pedestrian–traffic areas; 3
B. vehicle or pedestrian control devices; 4
C. equipment to lock or conceal dumpsters from public 5
access; or 6
D. signs, gardens, litter removal equipment, plantings, or 7
other upgrades to public spaces; 8
2. efforts to: 9
A. take into account the needs of neighborhoods in the 10
surrounding area to improve accessibility for all users, in compliance with Americans with 11
Disabilities Act standards; or 12
B. increase citizen and merchant stewardship through 13
organizing, education, and outreach activities that seek to engage residents and other 14
community stakeholders to actively participate in the upkeep and improvement of 15
residential areas and public spaces; 16
3. contracted cleaning or landscaping services to maintain or 17
clean improved open spaces; 18
4. contracted local private security services or similar 19
community–based programs with a specific emphasis on de–escalation and relationship 20
building; and 21
5. other efforts consistent with subparagraph (i) of this 22
paragraph. 23
(3) “Eligible applicant” means: 24
(i) a tax–exempt nonprofit organization; 25
(ii) a governmental unit for a political subdivision; or 26
(iii) an institution of higher education in collaboration with a local 27
neighborhood association. 28
(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for a business 29
district and neighborhood security project. 30
HOUSE BILL 172 7
(c) If an eligible applicant submits an application for a grant under the Program 1
for a business district and neighborhood security project to purchase or install a network 2
of cameras or license readers, the eligible applicant shall include with the application: 3
(1) a monitoring plan; and 4
(2) evidence of a partnership with law enforcement, the governmental unit 5
responsible for traffic enforcement for the political subdivision, and any other relevant 6
public agencies. 7
(d) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 8
application for financial assistance under the Program for a business district and 9
neighborhood security project a grant that: 10
(1) is at least $75,000; and 11
(2) does not exceed $150,000.] 12
[6–1306. 13
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
(2) “Community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention 15
project” means a comprehensive strategy that integrates partnerships and coordinated 16
activities that: 17
(i) directly engage individuals who are at risk of becoming involved 18
with or affected by violence and crime using evidence–based interventions; and 19
(ii) reduce crime and disorder by carefully examining the 20
characteristics of problems in neighborhoods and applying appropriate problem–solving 21
remedies. 22
(3) “Eligible applicant” means a tax–exempt nonprofit organization. 23
(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for a 24
community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention project. 25
(c) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 26
application for financial assistance under the Program for a community–centered crime 27
and violence intervention and prevention project a grant that does not exceed $250,000.] 28
[6–1307.] 6–1305. 29
(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Community Health and Safety Works Grant 30
Program Fund. 31
8 HOUSE BILL 172
(b) There is a Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program Fund. 1
(c) The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants 2
under the provisions of the Program for eligible projects. 3
(d) The Department shall administer the Fund. 4
(e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 5
the State Finance and Procurement Article. 6
(2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 7
Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 8
(f) The Fund consists of: 9
(1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 10
(2) earnings from the investment of money in the Fund; 11
(3) interest earnings of the Fund; and 12
(4) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 13
Fund. 14
(g) The Fund may be used only [for providing financial assistance in the form of 15
grants under the Program]: 16
(1) TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FO RM OF GRANTS 17
UNDER THE PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE A PPLICANTS; AND 18
(2) FOR ADMINIS TRATIVE AND OPERATIN G EXPENSES OF THE 19
DEPARTMENT IN CARRYIN G OUT THE PROGRAM. 20
(h) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same 21
manner as other State money may be invested. 22
(2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 23
(i) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State 24
budget. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 26
1, 2025. 27