(a) The General Assembly finds that survivors of homicide victims in the State: (1) lack necessary counseling and follow-up services to: (i) treat the survivors with dignity, respect, and sensitivity; and (ii) inform the survivors of the rights to which they are entitled by law; and (2) have the help of only extremely limited support services in some parts of the State. (b) The purpose of this section is to facilitate programs that address the special needs of survivors of homicide victims. (c) (1) The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall help establish and expand programs for survivors of homicide victims in the State. (2) The programs shall: (i) serve survivors of homicide victims in all parts of the State; (ii) provide or facilitate referrals to appropriate counseling, legal, mental health, and advocacy services for survivors of homicide victims including specialized support services to adult and minor survivors of homicide victims; and (iii) provide a toll-free telephone number and assistance to exercise the rights to which the survivors are entitled by law. (d) The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall award grants to public or private nonprofit organizations to operate the programs for survivors of homicide victims. (e) The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy regularly shall consult, collaborate with, and consider the recommendations of service providers to survivors of homicide victims regarding programs, policies, practices, and procedures that impact survivors of homicide victims. (f) Money for the programs for survivors of homicide victims shall be as provided in the annual State budget and shall be used to supplement, but not supplant, money that the programs receive from other sources. (g) On or before October 1 each year, the Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall include a report on the programs for survivors of homicide victims in the annual report submitted by the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article.
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