The Governor may provide funding in the State budget for the awarding of grants for the development of community programs designed to educate children, parents, and other interested persons on the prevention of: child physical or sexual abuse; and child alcohol and drug abuse. Subject to the provisions of this subtitle, grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis to private organizations or public agencies submitting proposed programs for the prevention of child physical or sexual abuse and child alcohol and drug abuse.

All proposals for funding received under this subtitle designed to address the prevention of child physical or sexual abuse shall be reviewed by a selection committee composed of the following members: 2 persons designated by the Secretary of Human Services, of which 1 person shall have prior experience in local community child abuse prevention programs; 2 persons designated by the State Superintendent of Schools, of which 1 person shall have prior experience in local community child abuse prevention programs; and the Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office for Children who shall serve as the chair of the committee. The Secretary of Human Services shall establish procedures for the grant award process and publish appropriate notice in the Maryland Register and in newspapers of general circulation concerning the submittal of proposals for funding under this section. The Department shall administer the child abuse prevention grant program created under this subtitle and shall compile appropriate information regarding the awarding and use of grants received under this section.

All proposals for funding received under this subtitle designed to address the prevention of child alcohol and drug abuse shall be reviewed by a selection committee composed of the following members: 2 persons designated by the Secretary of Health, of which 1 person shall have prior experience in local community alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs; 2 persons designated by the State Superintendent of Schools, of which 1 person shall have prior experience in local community alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs; and the Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office for Children who shall serve as chair of the committee. The Secretary of Health shall establish procedures for the grant award process and publish appropriate notice in the Maryland Register and in newspapers of general circulation concerning the submittal of proposals for funding under this section. The Maryland Department of Health shall administer the alcohol and drug abuse prevention grant program created under this subtitle and shall compile appropriate information regarding the awarding and use of grants received under this section.

In reviewing and ranking proposals, the selection committees established under §§ 5–1102 and 5–1103 of this subtitle shall place additional value on proposals that are designed to: reach the largest possible number of parents, children, and youth in a community; involve local government officials and other community leaders; and be supplemented by local or private funding. The selection committees shall attempt to achieve a broad geographic distribution of funding, to the extent that a proposal has merit, in their recommendations to the Governor. Based solely on the recommendations of the selection committees, the Governor shall award grants, not to exceed $10,000 each, to further the purposes of this subtitle. All grant awards under this subtitle shall be identified and briefly described in annual reports developed by the Department of Human Services for grants awarded under § 5–1102 of this subtitle and by the Maryland Department of Health for grants awarded under § 5–1103 of this subtitle. These reports shall be presented to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly. In conjunction with the grant programs established under this subtitle, each year the Governor shall proclaim a Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Awareness Week and a Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Week to focus public attention on these problems.