Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB188 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0188
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 188
8	8	C9 5lr0145
9	9	(PRE–FILED) CF HB 172
10	10	By: Chair, Budget and Taxation Committee (By Request – Departmental –
11	11	Housing and Community Development)
12	12	Requested: October 6, 2024
13	13	Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
14	14	Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
15	15
16	16	A BILL ENTITLED
17	17
18	18	AN ACT concerning 1
19	19
20	20	Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program and Fund – Alterations 2
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of altering the projects eligible for funding under the Community Health 3
23	23	and Safety Works Grant Program; altering the applicants eligible to apply for 4
24	24	funding for certain projects under the Program; altering requirements for projects to 5
25	25	purchase or install license readers; repealing certain requirements for projects to 6
26	26	purchase or install camera networks; repealing minimum and maximum grant 7
27	27	amounts under the Program; expanding the authorized uses of the Community 8
28	28	Health and Safety Works Grant Program Fund to include certain administrative and 9
29	29	operating expenses of the Department of Housing and Community Development; and 10
30	30	generally relating to the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program and 11
31	31	Fund. 12
32	32
33	33	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
34	34	Article – Housing and Community Development 14
35	35	Section 6–1301, 6–1304, and 6–1307 15
36	36	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
37	37	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
38	38
39	39	BY repealing 18
40	40	Article – Housing and Community Development 19
41	41	Section 6–1305 and 6–1306 20
42	42	Annotated Code of Maryland 21
43	43	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
44	44
45	45	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 23
46	46	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 24
47	47
48	48	Article – Housing and Community Development 25 2 SENATE BILL 188
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	6–1301. 1
53	53
54	54	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 2
55	55
56	56	(b) “Eligible project” means: 3
57	57
58	58	(1) [a facility and community improvement project] A COMMUNITY OR 4
59	59	BUSINESS DISTRICT IM PROVEMENT PROJECT as defined in § 6–1304 of this subtitle; 5
60	60
61	61	(2) [a business district and neighborhood security project as defined in § 6
62	62	6–1305 of this subtitle; or 7
63	63
64	64	(3)] a community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention 8
65	65	project as defined in [§ 6–1306] § 6–1304 of this subtitle; OR 9
66	66
67	67	(3) ANY OTHER CATEGORY OF PROJECT IDENTIFIED BY THE 10
68	68	SECRETARY AS A RECOGN IZED CRIME PREVENTIO N STRATEGY DESIGNED TO 11
69	69	ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTA L, HEALTH, OR SAFETY CONCERNS I N COMMERCIAL , 12
70	70	PUBLIC, OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS . 13
71	71
72	72	(c) “Program” means the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program. 14
73	73
74	74	6–1304. 15
75	75
76	76	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
77	77
78	78	(2) “COMMUNITY–CENTERED CRIME AND V IOLENCE INTERVENTION 17
79	79	AND PREVENTION PROJE CT” MEANS A COMPREHENSIV E STRATEGY THAT 18
80	80	INTEGRATES PARTNERSH IPS AND COORDINATED ACTIVITI ES THAT: 19
81	81
82	82	(I) DIRECTLY ENGAGE INDI VIDUALS WHO ARE AT R ISK OF 20
83	83	BECOMING INVOLVED WI TH OR AFFECTED BY VI OLENCE AND CRIME USI NG 21
84	84	EVIDENCE–BASED INTERVENTIONS ; AND 22
85	85
86	86	(II) REDUCE CRIME AND DIS ORDER BY CAREFULLY E XAMINING 23
87	87	THE CHARACTERISTI CS OF PROBLEMS IN NE IGHBORHOODS AND APPL YING 24
88	88	APPROPRIATE PROBLEM –SOLVING REMEDIES . 25
89	89
90	90	(3) (I) “COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT 26
91	91	PROJECT” MEANS A PHYSICAL PRO JECT OR COMMUNITY SE RVICE THAT: 27
92	92
93	93	1. MAKES A FACILITY , A COMMUNITY , A COMMUNITY 28
94	94	OPEN SPACE, A RESIDENTIAL STREET , OR A COMMERCIAL CORR IDOR SAFER FOR 29
95	95	COMMUNITY USE ; 30 SENATE BILL 188 3
96	96
97	97
98	98
99	99	2. SUPPORTS COMMUNITY –LED EFFORTS TO IMPRO VE 1
100	100	THE APPEARANCE OF A FACILITY, A COMMUNITY , A COMMUNITY OPEN SPA CE, A 2
101	101	RESIDENTIAL STREET , OR A COMMERCIAL CORR IDOR; 3
102	102
103	103	3. ELIMINATES PREDATORY OR UNHEALTHY 4
104	104	PRACTICES, SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMP ING, LITTERING, OR ENVIRONMENTAL OR 5
105	105	TRAFFIC HAZARDS ; OR 6
106	106
107	107	4. MITIGATES THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT A ND 7
108	108	OTHER CONDITIONS REL ATED TO CLIMATE CHAN GE. 8
109	109
110	110	(II) “COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT 9
111	111	PROJECT” INCLUDES THE PURCHASE OR INST ALLATION OF: 10
112	112
113	113	1. SECURITY CAMERAS , LICENSE READERS , OR 11
114	114	ADEQUATE LIGHTING FO R OUTDOOR SPACES AND COMMON AREAS ; 12
115	115
116	116	2. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTU RAL DESIGN FEATURES , 13
117	117	INCLUDING SIGNS , GARDENS, PAVING TREATMENTS , PLANTINGS, OR OTHER 14
118	118	UPGRADES TO PUBLIC S PACES; 15
119	119
120	120	3. CONTRACTED LAND ENHA NCEMENT OR 16
121	121	GROUNDSKEEPING SERVI CES TO MAINTAIN OR C LEAN OPEN SPACES ; 17
122	122
123	123	4. CONTRACTED CLEANING OR LANDSCAPING SERVI CES 18
124	124	OR EQUIPMENT TO MAIN TAIN OR CLEAN OPEN S PACES; 19
125	125
126	126	5. CONTRACTED LOCAL PRI VATE SECURITY SERVIC ES 20
127	127	OR SIMILAR COMMUNITY –BASED PROGRAMS WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON 21
128	128	DE–ESCALATION AND RELAT IONSHIP BUILDING ; AND 22
129	129
130	130	6. TRAFFIC CALMING MEAS URES THAT INCREASE 23
131	131	PEDESTRIAN SAFETY . 24
132	132
133	133	[(2)] (4) “Eligible applicant” means: 25
134	134
135	135	(I) a tax–exempt nonprofit organization; 26
136	136
137	137	(II) A GOVERNMENTAL UNIT OF A POLITICAL SUBDI VISION; OR 27
138	138
139	139	(III) AN INSTITUTION OF HI GHER EDUCATION IN 28
140	140	COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD A SSOCIATION. 29
141	141	4 SENATE BILL 188
142	142
143	143
144	144	[(3) (i) “Facility and community improvement project” means a physical 1
145	145	project or a community service that: 2
146	146
147	147	1. makes a facility or a community–managed open space 3
148	148	safer for residents and visitors; 4
149	149
150	150	2. encourages the authorized uses of a facility or a 5
151	151	community–managed open space by individuals; or 6
152	152
153	153	3. supports community–led efforts to improve the 7
154	154	appearance of a facility or a community–managed open space. 8
155	155
156	156	(ii) “Facility and community improvement project” includes: 9
157	157
158	158	1. the purchase or installation of: 10
159	159
160	160	A. equipment that increases the visibility of vulnerable 11
161	161	spaces, including surveillance tools or adequate lighting for exterior doors, common areas, 12
162	162	or hallways; or 13
163	163
164	164	B. landscape architectural design features, including signs, 14
165	165	gardens, paving treatments, plantings, or other upgrades to public spaces; 15
166	166
167	167	2. efforts to: 16
168	168
169	169	A. improve sight lines within, increase visitation to, or clean 17
170	170	public spaces; or 18
171	171
172	172	B. integrate landscape architectural design features into a 19
173	173	facility or a community–managed open space in a manner that connects adjacent 20
174	174	neighborhoods for various users while distancing the users from private areas; 21
175	175
176	176	3. timely removal of graffiti and use of graffiti resistance 22
177	177	practices in collaboration with a person who specializes in the area of graffiti removal 23
178	178	services to present a vibrant, maintained space; and 24
179	179
180	180	4. contracted land enhancement or groundskeeping services 25
181	181	to maintain or clean open spaces and functional surfaces.] 26
182	182
183	183	(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for [a facility 27
184	184	and community]: 28
185	185
186	186	(1) A COMMUNITY OR BUSIN ESS DISTRICT improvement project; 29
187	187
188	188	(2) A COMMUNITY –CENTERED CRIME AND V IOLENCE INTERVENTION 30
189	189	AND PREVENTION PROJE CT; OR 31 SENATE BILL 188 5
190	190
191	191
192	192
193	193	(3) ANY OTHER ELIGIBLE P ROJECT. 1
194	194
195	195	(c) If an eligible applicant submits an application for a grant under the Program 2
196	196	for a [facility and community improvement] project to purchase or install [a network of 3
197	197	cameras or] license readers, the eligible applicant shall include with the application[: 4
198	198
199	199	(1) a monitoring plan; 5
200	200
201	201	(2)] evidence of a partnership with law enforcement[, the governmental 6
202	202	unit responsible for traffic enforcement for the political subdivision,] and any other relevant 7
203	203	public agencies[; and 8
204	204
205	205	(3) a list of possible locations of cameras and license readers and a plan for 9
206	206	providing notice of locations to property owners]. 10
207	207
208	208	(d) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 11
209	209	application for financial assistance under the Program for [a facility and community 12
210	210	improvement] AN ELIGIBLE project a grant [that: 13
211	211
212	212	(1) is at least $25,000; and 14
213	213
214	214	(2) does not exceed $50,000] IN AN AMOUNT DETERMI NED BY THE 15
215	215	DEPARTMENT . 16
216	216
217	217	[6–1305. 17
218	218
219	219	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 18
220	220
221	221	(2) (i) “Business district and neighborhood security project” means a 19
222	222	comprehensive plan for enhancing the visual perception of safety along commercial 20
223	223	corridors and adjacent areas. 21
224	224
225	225	(ii) “Business district and neighborhood security project” includes: 22
226	226
227	227	1. the purchase or installation of: 23
228	228
229	229	A. equipment that increases the visibility of vulnerable 24
230	230	spaces, including surveillance tools, adequate lighting for exterior doors, common areas, or 25
231	231	hallways, or pedestrian–scale street lighting in high–pedestrian–traffic areas; 26
232	232
233	233	B. vehicle or pedestrian control devices; 27
234	234
235	235	C. equipment to lock or conceal dumpsters from public 28
236	236	access; or 29
237	237	6 SENATE BILL 188
238	238
239	239
240	240	D. signs, gardens, litter removal equipment, plantings, or 1
241	241	other upgrades to public spaces; 2
242	242
243	243	2. efforts to: 3
244	244
245	245	A. take into account the needs of neighborhoods in the 4
246	246	surrounding area to improve accessibility for all users, in compliance with Americans with 5
247	247	Disabilities Act standards; or 6
248	248
249	249	B. increase citizen and merchant stewardship through 7
250	250	organizing, education, and outreach activities that seek to engage residents and other 8
251	251	community stakeholders to actively participate in the upkeep and improvement of 9
252	252	residential areas and public spaces; 10
253	253
254	254	3. contracted cleaning or landscaping services to maintain or 11
255	255	clean improved open spaces; 12
256	256
257	257	4. contracted local private security services or similar 13
258	258	community–based programs with a specific emphasis on de–escalation and relationship 14
259	259	building; and 15
260	260
261	261	5. other efforts consistent with subparagraph (i) of this 16
262	262	paragraph. 17
263	263
264	264	(3) “Eligible applicant” means: 18
265	265
266	266	(i) a tax–exempt nonprofit organization; 19
267	267
268	268	(ii) a governmental unit for a political subdivision; or 20
269	269
270	270	(iii) an institution of higher education in collaboration with a local 21
271	271	neighborhood association. 22
272	272
273	273	(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for a business 23
274	274	district and neighborhood security project. 24
275	275
276	276	(c) If an eligible applicant submits an application for a grant under the Program 25
277	277	for a business district and neighborhood security project to purchase or install a network 26
278	278	of cameras or license readers, the eligible applicant shall include with the application: 27
279	279
280	280	(1) a monitoring plan; and 28
281	281
282	282	(2) evidence of a partnership with law enforcement, the governmental unit 29
283	283	responsible for traffic enforcement for the political subdivision, and any other relevant 30
284	284	public agencies. 31
285	285	SENATE BILL 188 7
286	286
287	287
288	288	(d) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 1
289	289	application for financial assistance under the Program for a business district and 2
290	290	neighborhood security project a grant that: 3
291	291
292	292	(1) is at least $75,000; and 4
293	293
294	294	(2) does not exceed $150,000.] 5
295	295
296	296	[6–1306. 6
297	297
298	298	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 7
299	299
300	300	(2) “Community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention 8
301	301	project” means a comprehensive strategy that integrates partnerships and coordinated 9
302	302	activities that: 10
303	303
304	304	(i) directly engage individuals who are at risk of becoming involved 11
305	305	with or affected by violence and crime using evidence–based interventions; and 12
306	306
307	307	(ii) reduce crime and disorder by carefully examining the 13
308	308	characteristics of problems in neighborhoods and applying appropriate problem–solving 14
309	309	remedies. 15
310	310
311	311	(3) “Eligible applicant” means a tax–exempt nonprofit organization. 16
312	312
313	313	(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for a 17
314	314	community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention project. 18
315	315
316	316	(c) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 19
317	317	application for financial assistance under the Program for a community–centered crime 20
318	318	and violence intervention and prevention project a grant that does not exceed $250,000.] 21
319	319
320	320	[6–1307.] 6–1305. 22
321	321
322	322	(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Community Health and Safety Works Grant 23
323	323	Program Fund. 24
324	324
325	325	(b) There is a Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program Fund. 25
326	326
327	327	(c) The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants 26
328	328	under the provisions of the Program for eligible projects. 27
329	329
330	330	(d) The Department shall administer the Fund. 28
331	331
332	332	(e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 29
333	333	the State Finance and Procurement Article. 30
334	334	8 SENATE BILL 188
335	335
336	336
337	337	(2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 1
338	338	Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 2
339	339
340	340	(f) The Fund consists of: 3
341	341
342	342	(1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 4
343	343
344	344	(2) earnings from the investment of money in the Fund; 5
345	345
346	346	(3) interest earnings of the Fund; and 6
347	347
348	348	(4) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 7
349	349	Fund. 8
350	350
351	351	(g) The Fund may be used only [for providing financial assistance in the form of 9
352	352	grants under the Program]: 10
353	353
354	354	(1) TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FO RM OF GRANTS 11
355	355	UNDER THE PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE A PPLICANTS; AND 12
356	356
357	357	(2) FOR ADMINISTRATIVE A ND OPERATING EXPENSE S OF THE 13
358	358	DEPARTMENT IN CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAM. 14
359	359
360	360	(h) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same 15
361	361	manner as other State money may be invested. 16
362	362
363	363	(2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 17
364	364
365	365	(i) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State 18
366	366	budget. 19
367	367
368	368	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20
369	369	1, 2025. 21