Signed by Governor Larry Hogan, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes pretrial services program grant funds.

Highlights:

• Establishes a Pretrial Services Program Grant intended to establish and improve new pretrial service programs (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Executive director to administer the fund (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to certain sections for the State Finance and Procurement Article (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the fund will consist of the following (Sec. 1):

• Money appropriated in the State Budget to the fund;

• Interest earnings of the fund; and

• Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the fund.

• Requires the executive director to establish procedures for eligible counties to apply for and receive grants from the fund and solicit grant proposals for eligible counties (Sec. 1).

• Requires any eligible county that received a grant from the fund shall submit to the executive director proof of the expenditure of the grant funds (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the pretrial services program is responsible for the following, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Provide cellular telephone reminders of defendant’s hearing date;

• Drug and alcohol testing;

• Global positioning satellite monitoring; and

• Substance abuse, mental health or mediation referrals.

Full Bill Text