(a) There is a Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund. (b) The purpose of the Fund is to: (1) support effective violence reduction strategies by providing competitive grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to fund evidence-based health programs or evidence-informed health programs; and (2) evaluate the efficacy of evidence-based health programs or evidence-informed health programs funded through the Fund. (c) The Executive Director shall administer the Fund in consultation with the Council. (d) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7- 302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. (2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller, in conjunction with the Executive Director, shall account for the Fund. (e) (1) The Fund consists of: (i) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; (ii) investment earnings of the Fund; and (iii) money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. (2) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Governor may annually appropriate up to $10,000,000 to the Fund. (ii) The Governor shall annually include in the annual budget bill an appropriation composed of at least $3,000,000 in general funds to the Fund. (f) (1) The Fund shall be used in the following manner: (i) to support effective violence reduction strategies by providing competitive grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to fund evidence-based health programs or evidence-informed health programs; (ii) in an amount not less than 5% but not greater than 10% of the Fund, for the evaluation of the efficacy of evidence-based health programs or evidence-informed health programs awarded grants through the Fund; and (iii) in an amount not greater than 4% of the Fund, for the following administrative costs: 1. oversight of the Fund; 2. public outreach and education about the Fund; and 3. technical assistance and best practice education for grantees. (2) The Fund may not be used to: (i) supplant funding that would otherwise be available for violence intervention or prevention programs; or (ii) fund suppression activities by law enforcement. (g) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. (2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. (h) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget. (i) The accounts and transactions of the Fund shall be subject to audit by the Legislative Auditor as provided in § 2-1220 of the State Government Article.
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