Subtitle 59 – Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-1 (2026)
§ 59-1 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b)Area median income.
“Area median income” means the median household income for an area adjusted for household size, as published and annually updated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(c)Cannabis.
“Cannabis” has the meaning stated in § 5-101 {“Definitions”} of the State Criminal Law Article.
(d)Commission.
“Commission” means the Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission.
(e)Community-based organization.
“Community-based organization” means a public or private organization that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community, and provides educational, health, or social services to individuals in the community.
(f)Demonstrated knowledge.
“Demonstrated knowledge” means an individual has displayed competency with a subject, as demonstrated by:
(1)
publishing written material
(2)
delivering programmatic offerings to the public; or
(3)
creating and providing to the public educational materials.
(g)Direct.
“Direct” means to carry out the organizing, energizing, and supervising of funds disbursed to the City pursuant to § 13-4601 {“Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund”} of the State Health-General Article .
(h)Fund.
“Fund” means the State Community Investment and Repair Fund.
(i)Low-income community.
“Low-income community” means a community where the average household income is less than 80% of the Area Median Income.
(j)Structural racism.
“Structural racism” means a policy or set of policies that widen the social and political disadvantages within society for members of 1 or more minority groups.
(k)White supremacy.
“White supremacy” means the belief, theory, or doctrine that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-2 (2026)
§ 59-2 Commission created; purpose; duties.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Established.
There is a Community Reinvestment and Reparations Commission.
(b)Purpose.
The purpose of the Commission is to determine the use of the funds disbursed to Baltimore City from the State Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, direct the expenditures appropriated for those uses, and submit any reports required in accordance with Title 13, Subtitle 46 {“Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund”} of the State Health - General Article.
(c)Duties.
In accordance with the provisions of Title 13, Subtitle 46 {“Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund”} of the State Health - General Article, the members of the Commission shall:
(1)
establish the purposes for which money from the Fund may be used in accordance with Title 13, Subtitle 46 {“Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund”} of the State Health - General Article;
(2)
direct the expenditures appropriated for supplemental funding to community-based organizations for services and programs intended to benefit low-income communities in accordance with State law;
(3)
in directing expenditures as empowered under paragraph 2 of this subsection, prioritize community-based organizations that have been historically underfunded; and
(4)
prepare and publish the biannual report required by State law.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-3 (2026)
§ 59-3 Members.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
(1)
The Commission is comprised of 17 members.
(2)
Of these:
(i)
16 members are appointed by the Mayor in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the Baltimore City Charter</cite>; and
(ii)
1 member shall be the Baltimore City Comptroller or the Comptroller’s designee, serving as an ex officio member.
(b)Appointed members: Qualifications.
Of the 16 members appointed by the Mayor:
(1)
1 member must be appointed from each of the 14 Council Districts;
(2)
at least 1 member must be a service provider for incarcerated persons or persons with a criminal record; and
(3)
at least 1 member must be a representative from a community-based organization that works with low-income communities.
(c)City Council candidates.
(1)
Each member of the City Council and the City Council President shall propose 1 candidate to the Mayor for the Mayor’s consideration for appointment to the Commission.
(2)
The Mayor shall consider the candidates proposed by the City Council for appointment to the Board and may nominate the candidates at the Mayor’s discretion in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">City Charter Article IV, § 6</cite>.
(3)
If the Mayor rejects a candidate proposed by the City Council, the Mayor must provide a written response to the City Council justifying why the Mayor rejected the candidate.
(d)
General knowledge.
An individual who is appointed to the Commission must have a demonstrated knowledge of 1 or more of the following:
(1)
the history of the resistance of people of African descent to white supremacy, enslavement, Jim Crow laws, and other examples of racial violence and discrimination;
(2)
the history of the resistance of racial, ethnic, and other minority groups against discrimination, violence, and inequality;
(3)
the needs of individuals returning to the community after incarceration;
(4)
the impact of the disproportionate enforcement of drug laws on the quality of life experience by racial and ethnic minorities, especially people of African descent, including specialization in:
(i)
the disruption of families;
(ii)
exposure to the prison system;
(iii)
trauma experienced as a result of community and police violence; or
(iv)
another similar factor contributing to quality of life; and
(5)
methods for delivering community investment that empower marginalized people to have a voice in the distribution of resources.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-4 (2026)
§ 59-4 Terms; chair; removal.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Terms of appointed members.
(1)
Each member of the Commission serves a 4-year term, concurrent with the Mayor’s term of office.
(2)
An appointed member of the Commission may not serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.
(3)
A member of the Commission appointed to fill a vacancy serves the rest of the unexpired term.
(4)
A member of the Committee continues in office until the member’s successor is appointed and qualified.
(b)Commission Chair.
One member of the Commission shall be elected as Chair by majority vote of the members of the Commission.
(c)Removal.
The Commission, with the approval of ¾ of its members, may remove a member for neglect of duty or misconduct in office.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-5 (2026)
§ 59-5 Compensation; expenses; staff.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Compensation.
Each member of the Commission shall be compensated as provided for in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(b)Expenses.
Each member may be reimbursed for necessary and proper expenses incurred in the performance of the member’s duties.
(c)Staff.
The Commission shall have such staff as provided for in the Ordinance of Estimates to assist the Commission in fulfilling its duties as provided for under <cite data-path="|1|§59-2">§ 59-2 {“Commission created; purpose; duties”} of this subtitle</cite>.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-6 (2026)
§ 59-6 Meetings.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The Commission must meet at the call of the Chair as frequently as required to perform its duties, but not less than 1 time each quarter of the year.
(b)Quorum.
A simple majority of the members of the Commission shall serve as quorum.
(c)Voting.
An affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-7 (2026)
§ 59-7 Biannual report.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
Beginning in 2024, on or before December 1 and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall create and publish the report required by § 13-4601(b)(2)(ii) of the State Health - General Article.
(b)Recipients.
The Commission shall submit the report to the following recipients:
(1)
the Mayor;
(2)
the City Council;
(3)
the Governor;
(4)
the State Budget and Taxation Committee;
(5)
the State Senate Finance Committee;
(6)
the State House Judiciary Committee;
(7)
the State House Health and Government Operations Committee; and
(8)
any other entity required by State law.
(c)Contents.
The report required by this section shall include:
(1)
recommendations to the Mayor and City Council regarding repairing the damage done to communities determined by The Office of the Attorney General to have been the most impacted by disproportionate enforcement of the cannabis prohibition in Baltimore City before July 1, 2022; and
(2)
recommendations to the Mayor and City Council regarding repairing the damage done to racial and ethnic minority communities in Baltimore City by structurally racist and white supremacist policies.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 59-8 (2026)
§ 59-8 Rules and regulations.LinkCopy Citation
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Commission may adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.
History: Ord. 23-249