In Sections 7-188 through 7-194 of this Subtitle, the following words have the meanings indicated. Claimant means a person filing a claim subject to this Subtitle. Court means the Circuit Court for Prince George's County sitting as a juvenile court. Delinquent Act means an act which would be a crime if committed by an adult. Family, when used with reference to a person, means any person related to such person within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity. Victim means a person who is damaged or suffers loss as a direct result of a delinquent act as defined in Sec. 3-829 of the Courts Article.

In Prince George's County there is a fund, known as the Juvenile Crime Restitution Fund, to make reimbursements to victims of delinquent acts. The Court shall hear and determine all claims and awards and may adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind suitable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Division. The County Director of the Office of Finance shall be custodian of the fund and make disbursements from the fund promptly on receipt of a request from the Court. The custodian shall invest the money received under this Subtitle subject to procedures in the County for the investment of public funds. The County Council of Prince George's County may appropriate a sum to establish the fund and make supplemental appropriations to maintain the fund.

Except as provided in Subsection (b) of this Section, the following persons are eligible for awards under this Division: A victim of a delinquent act, his personal representatives or successors. A surviving guardian, parent, spouse, or child of a victim of a delinquent act who dies as a direct result of that act. A person is not eligible for an award under this Division if: The delinquent act was committed against an accomplice to the act or a member of the family of the principal or the accomplice; or Final adjustment for insurance claims has not been provided to the Court under Section 7-191 of this Division.

A claim may be filed by a person eligible to receive an award, as provided in Section 7-188 of this Subtitle. If the person entitled to make a claim is a minor or is mentally incompetent, the claim may be filed on the victim's behalf by his parent or guardian. A claim must be filed by the claimant not later than 90 days after a finding of delinquency in a matter upon which the claim is based. Claims shall be filed with the clerk of the Prince George's County Circuit Court in person or by mail. The clerk shall accept for filing all claims submitted by persons eligible under Subsection (a) of this Section and meeting the requirements as to form as may be established by rules adopted pursuant hereto. Upon filing of a claim under this Division, the clerk of the court shall promptly notify the state's attorney. The Court shall defer all action on the claim until the juvenile proceedings concerning the act giving rise to the claim have been concluded.

The Court may award a claimant a sum not to exceed the amount determined by the Court to be restitution for the victim. An award shall not be made on a claim unless the claimant has incurred a minimum out-of-pocket loss of $25. Out-of-pocket loss means unreimbursable expenses or indebtedness reasonably incurred to make the claimant whole. If the victim dies as a direct result of the delinquent act, the claimant's recovery is limited to unreimbursable expenses or indebtedness reasonably incurred for medical care and funeral and burial costs. The custodian of the fund shall pay the sum awarded to a claimant at the direction of the Court.

Acceptance of an award under this Division subrogates the fund, to the extent of such award, to any right or right of action occurring to the claimant or the victim to recover payments on account of losses resulting from any act or occurrence with respect to which the award is made. The Prince George's County State's Attorney shall represent the fund in such an event.

A minor adjudged to have committed a delinquent act may be ordered by the Juvenile Court to reimburse the fund himself, either by a single payment or in installments, at the discretion of the Court. Interest shall be assessed against the minor at the legal rate from the date of disbursement from the fund. Unless the minor is an emancipated minor, the parents or guardian of a minor shall be ordered to cosign with the minor a note for the amount of the award to insure the fund is reimbursed. If this is ordered, the liability of the minor precedes the liability of the parents or guardian.