Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 20-1047 - Civil Rights Enforcement Fund(a) In this section, "Fund" means the Civil Rights Enforcement Fund.(b) There is a Civil Rights Enforcement Fund.(c) The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding for:(1) civil rights enforcement activities of the Attorney General and the Commission; and(2) education and outreach in the community relating to civil rights violations.(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 shall account for the Fund.(e) The Fund consists of: (1) civil penalties deposited into the Fund under § 20-1046 of this part;(2) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and(3) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.(f) The Fund may be used only: (1) to reimburse the Attorney General and the Commission for costs associated with investigating and prosecuting civil rights violations; and(2) education and outreach in the community relating to civil rights violations.(g)(1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.(2) Interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.(h) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.(i) Money of the Fund is not subject to transfer by budget amendment.(j) Money expended from the Fund for the enforcement activities of the Attorney General and the Commission is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated for the Attorney General or the Commission.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 629, Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2023.