In this Article, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Cannabis has the meaning stated in Section 1-101 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code, as amended. Commission means the Montgomery County Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund Commission established under this Article. Community-based organization means a public or private company, corporation, limited liability company, neighborhood group, organization, or partnership that provides education, vocational education or rehabilitation, job training, health, social services, or economic uplift to individuals in the County. County reinvestment funds mean monies disbursed to the County from the State Fund. Department means the Department of Health and Human Services. Director means the Director of the Department, or a designee of the Director. Disproportionately impacted area has the meaning stated in Section 36-101 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code, as amended. Office means the Office of Grants Management. State Fund or Fund means the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund of the State of Maryland.

(a) The County must use County reinvestment funds solely for: (1) community-based initiatives intended to benefit low-income communities; (2) community-based initiatives that serve disproportionately impacted areas; (3) any other use permitted under Section 1-322 of the Alcohol Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code, as amended; and (4) related administrative expenses. (b) The County must not use reinvestment funds for law enforcement agencies or activities.

There is a Montgomery County Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund Commission.

(a) The Commission consists of 13 voting members and one non-voting ex-officio member. (b) The voting members are appointed by the County Executive, subject to Council confirmation, and must include: (1) 11 County residents with demonstrated knowledge under subsection (d); (2) at least one member who represents a service provider for incarcerated persons or persons with a criminal record; and (3) at least one member who was incarcerated or has a criminal history. (c) Members appointed under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) may include individuals with demonstrated experience in: (1) youth engagement and education programs; (2) jobs training and placement programs for marginalized individuals; (3) housing services and unhoused prevention services; and (4) economic development or entrepreneurship benefitting low-income communities or disproportionately impacted areas. (d) Ex-officio member. The Director is a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Commission. (e) Application. An individual wishing to serve on the Commission must submit an application to the County Executive and the Council describing the individual’s demonstrated knowledge, through education, training, or work or personal experience, of one 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 experienced by racial and ethnic minorities, especially people of African descent, including specialization in: (A) the disruption of families; (B) exposure to the prison system; (C) trauma experienced as a result of community and police violence; or (D) 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.

(a) The Office, after consultation with the Commission, must develop and administer a public process for community-based organizations to apply for grants that support: (1) community-based initiatives intended to benefit low-income communities; and (2) community-based initiatives that serve disproportionately impacted areas. (b) The Commission annually must recommend to the Office grant awards to the selected community-based organizations from County reinvestment funds, subject to: (1) the appropriation of funds; and (2) the execution of grant agreements between the County and the awardees. (c) The Commission may submit to the County Executive and the County Council recommendations regarding: (1) existing or potential County programs related to community-based initiatives intended to benefit low-income communities or to serve disproportionately impacted areas; (2) existing or potential County programs to repair damage done to communities that have been the most impacted by disproportionate enforcement of the cannabis prohibition before July 1, 2022; and (3) changes to County law or regulation related to community-based initiatives or reparations intended to benefit low-income communities or to serve disproportionately impacted areas.

(a) Meetings. The Commission must meet at the call of the Commission chair and at least 6 times annually. (b) Quorum. A majority of the voting members of the Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (c) Officers. The Commission must elect from among its voting members a chair, vice-chair, and other officers it deems appropriate. (d) Stipend and reimbursement. (1) A member must receive an annual stipend of $1,000 from the County, subject to appropriation and the availability of County reinvestment funds. (2) A member may receive reimbursement for travel and dependent care under Section 2-145.

The Department must: (a) provide the staff support, including administrative and programmatic support, necessary for the Commission to perform its duties; and (b) monitor and administer the grants awarded under Section 24-81.