EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0188*
SENATE BILL 188
C9 5lr0145
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 172
By: Chair, Budget and Taxation Committee (By Request – Departmental –
Housing and Community Development)
Requested: October 6, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
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
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 23
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 24
Article – Housing and Community Development 25 2 SENATE BILL 188
6–1301. 1
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 2
(b) “Eligible project” means: 3
(1) [a facility and community improvement project] A COMMUNITY OR 4
BUSINESS DISTRICT IM PROVEMENT PROJECT as defined in § 6–1304 of this subtitle; 5
(2) [a business district and neighborhood security project as defined in § 6
6–1305 of this subtitle; or 7
(3)] a community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention 8
project as defined in [§ 6–1306] § 6–1304 of this subtitle; OR 9
(3) ANY OTHER CATEGORY OF PROJECT IDENTIFIED BY THE 10
SECRETARY AS A RECOGN IZED CRIME PREVENTIO N STRATEGY DESIGNED TO 11
ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTA L, HEALTH, OR SAFETY CONCERNS I N COMMERCIAL , 12
PUBLIC, OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS . 13
(c) “Program” means the Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program. 14
6–1304. 15
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16
(2) “COMMUNITY–CENTERED CRIME AND V IOLENCE INTERVENTION 17
AND PREVENTION PROJE CT” MEANS A COMPREHENSIV E STRATEGY THAT 18
INTEGRATES PARTNERSH IPS AND COORDINATED ACTIVITI ES THAT: 19
(I) DIRECTLY ENGAGE INDI VIDUALS WHO ARE AT R ISK OF 20
BECOMING INVOLVED WI TH OR AFFECTED BY VI OLENCE AND CRIME USI NG 21
EVIDENCE–BASED INTERVENTIONS ; AND 22
(II) REDUCE CRIME AND DIS ORDER BY CAREFULLY E XAMINING 23
THE CHARACTERISTI CS OF PROBLEMS IN NE IGHBORHOODS AND APPL YING 24
APPROPRIATE PROBLEM –SOLVING REMEDIES . 25
(3) (I) “COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT 26
PROJECT” MEANS A PHYSICAL PRO JECT OR COMMUNITY SE RVICE THAT: 27
1. MAKES A FACILITY , A COMMUNITY , A COMMUNITY 28
OPEN SPACE, A RESIDENTIAL STREET , OR A COMMERCIAL CORR IDOR SAFER FOR 29
COMMUNITY USE ; 30 SENATE BILL 188 3
2. SUPPORTS COMMUNITY –LED EFFORTS TO IMPRO VE 1
THE APPEARANCE OF A FACILITY, A COMMUNITY , A COMMUNITY OPEN SPA CE, A 2
RESIDENTIAL STREET , OR A COMMERCIAL CORR IDOR; 3
3. ELIMINATES PREDATORY OR UNHEALTHY 4
PRACTICES, SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMP ING, LITTERING, OR ENVIRONMENTAL OR 5
TRAFFIC HAZARDS ; OR 6
4. MITIGATES THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT A ND 7
OTHER CONDITIONS REL ATED TO CLIMATE CHAN GE. 8
(II) “COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT 9
PROJECT” INCLUDES THE PURCHASE OR INST ALLATION OF: 10
1. SECURITY CAMERAS , LICENSE READERS , OR 11
ADEQUATE LIGHTING FO R OUTDOOR SPACES AND COMMON AREAS ; 12
2. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTU RAL DESIGN FEATURES , 13
INCLUDING SIGNS , GARDENS, PAVING TREATMENTS , PLANTINGS, OR OTHER 14
UPGRADES TO PUBLIC S PACES; 15
3. CONTRACTED LAND ENHA NCEMENT OR 16
GROUNDSKEEPING SERVI CES TO MAINTAIN OR C LEAN OPEN SPACES ; 17
4. CONTRACTED CLEANING OR LANDSCAPING SERVI CES 18
OR EQUIPMENT TO MAIN TAIN OR CLEAN OPEN S PACES; 19
5. CONTRACTED LOCAL PRI VATE SECURITY SERVIC ES 20
OR SIMILAR COMMUNITY –BASED PROGRAMS WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON 21
DE–ESCALATION AND RELAT IONSHIP BUILDING ; AND 22
6. TRAFFIC CALMING MEAS URES THAT INCREASE 23
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY . 24
[(2)] (4) “Eligible applicant” means: 25
(I) a tax–exempt nonprofit organization; 26
(II) A GOVERNMENTAL UNIT OF A POLITICAL SUBDI VISION; OR 27
(III) AN INSTITUTION OF HI GHER EDUCATION IN 28
COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD A SSOCIATION. 29
4 SENATE BILL 188
[(3) (i) “Facility and community improvement project” means a physical 1
project or a community service that: 2
1. makes a facility or a community–managed open space 3
safer for residents and visitors; 4
2. encourages the authorized uses of a facility or a 5
community–managed open space by individuals; or 6
3. supports community–led efforts to improve the 7
appearance of a facility or a community–managed open space. 8
(ii) “Facility and community improvement project” includes: 9
1. the purchase or installation of: 10
A. equipment that increases the visibility of vulnerable 11
spaces, including surveillance tools or adequate lighting for exterior doors, common areas, 12
or hallways; or 13
B. landscape architectural design features, including signs, 14
gardens, paving treatments, plantings, or other upgrades to public spaces; 15
2. efforts to: 16
A. improve sight lines within, increase visitation to, or clean 17
public spaces; or 18
B. integrate landscape architectural design features into a 19
facility or a community–managed open space in a manner that connects adjacent 20
neighborhoods for various users while distancing the users from private areas; 21
3. timely removal of graffiti and use of graffiti resistance 22
practices in collaboration with a person who specializes in the area of graffiti removal 23
services to present a vibrant, maintained space; and 24
4. contracted land enhancement or groundskeeping services 25
to maintain or clean open spaces and functional surfaces.] 26
(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for [a facility 27
and community]: 28
(1) A COMMUNITY OR BUSIN ESS DISTRICT improvement project; 29
(2) A COMMUNITY –CENTERED CRIME AND V IOLENCE INTERVENTION 30
AND PREVENTION PROJE CT; OR 31 SENATE BILL 188 5
(3) ANY OTHER ELIGIBLE P ROJECT. 1
(c) If an eligible applicant submits an application for a grant under the Program 2
for a [facility and community improvement] project to purchase or install [a network of 3
cameras or] license readers, the eligible applicant shall include with the application[: 4
(1) a monitoring plan; 5
(2)] evidence of a partnership with law enforcement[, the governmental 6
unit responsible for traffic enforcement for the political subdivision,] and any other relevant 7
public agencies[; and 8
(3) a list of possible locations of cameras and license readers and a plan for 9
providing notice of locations to property owners]. 10
(d) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 11
application for financial assistance under the Program for [a facility and community 12
improvement] AN ELIGIBLE project a grant [that: 13
(1) is at least $25,000; and 14
(2) does not exceed $50,000] IN AN AMOUNT DETERMI NED BY THE 15
DEPARTMENT . 16
[6–1305. 17
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 18
(2) (i) “Business district and neighborhood security project” means a 19
comprehensive plan for enhancing the visual perception of safety along commercial 20
corridors and adjacent areas. 21
(ii) “Business district and neighborhood security project” includes: 22
1. the purchase or installation of: 23
A. equipment that increases the visibility of vulnerable 24
spaces, including surveillance tools, adequate lighting for exterior doors, common areas, or 25
hallways, or pedestrian–scale street lighting in high–pedestrian–traffic areas; 26
B. vehicle or pedestrian control devices; 27
C. equipment to lock or conceal dumpsters from public 28
access; or 29
6 SENATE BILL 188
D. signs, gardens, litter removal equipment, plantings, or 1
other upgrades to public spaces; 2
2. efforts to: 3
A. take into account the needs of neighborhoods in the 4
surrounding area to improve accessibility for all users, in compliance with Americans with 5
Disabilities Act standards; or 6
B. increase citizen and merchant stewardship through 7
organizing, education, and outreach activities that seek to engage residents and other 8
community stakeholders to actively participate in the upkeep and improvement of 9
residential areas and public spaces; 10
3. contracted cleaning or landscaping services to maintain or 11
clean improved open spaces; 12
4. contracted local private security services or similar 13
community–based programs with a specific emphasis on de–escalation and relationship 14
building; and 15
5. other efforts consistent with subparagraph (i) of this 16
paragraph. 17
(3) “Eligible applicant” means: 18
(i) a tax–exempt nonprofit organization; 19
(ii) a governmental unit for a political subdivision; or 20
(iii) an institution of higher education in collaboration with a local 21
neighborhood association. 22
(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for a business 23
district and neighborhood security project. 24
(c) If an eligible applicant submits an application for a grant under the Program 25
for a business district and neighborhood security project to purchase or install a network 26
of cameras or license readers, the eligible applicant shall include with the application: 27
(1) a monitoring plan; and 28
(2) evidence of a partnership with law enforcement, the governmental unit 29
responsible for traffic enforcement for the political subdivision, and any other relevant 30
public agencies. 31
SENATE BILL 188 7
(d) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 1
application for financial assistance under the Program for a business district and 2
neighborhood security project a grant that: 3
(1) is at least $75,000; and 4
(2) does not exceed $150,000.] 5
[6–1306. 6
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 7
(2) “Community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention 8
project” means a comprehensive strategy that integrates partnerships and coordinated 9
activities that: 10
(i) directly engage individuals who are at risk of becoming involved 11
with or affected by violence and crime using evidence–based interventions; and 12
(ii) reduce crime and disorder by carefully examining the 13
characteristics of problems in neighborhoods and applying appropriate problem–solving 14
remedies. 15
(3) “Eligible applicant” means a tax–exempt nonprofit organization. 16
(b) An eligible applicant may apply for a grant under the Program for a 17
community–centered crime and violence intervention and prevention project. 18
(c) The Department may award an eligible applicant who submits a complete 19
application for financial assistance under the Program for a community–centered crime 20
and violence intervention and prevention project a grant that does not exceed $250,000.] 21
[6–1307.] 6–1305. 22
(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Community Health and Safety Works Grant 23
Program Fund. 24
(b) There is a Community Health and Safety Works Grant Program Fund. 25
(c) The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants 26
under the provisions of the Program for eligible projects. 27
(d) The Department shall administer the Fund. 28
(e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 29
the State Finance and Procurement Article. 30
8 SENATE BILL 188
(2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 1
Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 2
(f) The Fund consists of: 3
(1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 4
(2) earnings from the investment of money in the Fund; 5
(3) interest earnings of the Fund; and 6
(4) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 7
Fund. 8
(g) The Fund may be used only [for providing financial assistance in the form of 9
grants under the Program]: 10
(1) TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FO RM OF GRANTS 11
UNDER THE PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE A PPLICANTS; AND 12
(2) FOR ADMINISTRATIVE A ND OPERATING EXPENSE S OF THE 13
DEPARTMENT IN CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAM. 14
(h) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same 15
manner as other State money may be invested. 16
(2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 17
(i) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State 18
budget. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 20
1, 2025. 21