In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP)” means a network of Maryland health care professionals with the expertise to address the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect while working closely with other disciplines and organizations addressing these issues, including child advocacy centers. “Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) faculty” means a core group of clinical experts, as designated by the Department, who provide training, consultation, and support for the diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect to health care professionals. “Child advocacy center” means a child–focused entity within or outside a health care facility that investigates, diagnoses, and treats children who may have been abused or neglected that: Includes local law enforcement officers, local criminal prosecutors, and the local department of social services; and May include child mental health service providers and other children and family service providers. “Initiative” means the Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative. “Multidisciplinary team” means a group of professionals with expertise in various health care and social service professional disciplines who provide consultation, treatment, and planning in cases of child abuse and neglect.

There is a Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative in the Department. The purposes of the Initiative are: To improve the protection of children in the State; To recruit local physicians to gain clinical expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect; To develop and guide the practice of local or regional multidisciplinary teams to improve the medical assessment and treatment of children who are the subject of a child abuse or neglect investigation or a child in need of assistance; To facilitate the appropriate prosecution of criminal child abuse and neglect; and To provide expert consultation and training to local or regional multidisciplinary teams in the diagnosis and treatment of physical child abuse and neglect and sexual abuse through teleconferencing and on–site services.

The Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) faculty shall: Assist local and regional jurisdictions to develop standards and protocols for the composition and operation of local or regional Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP); Provide training and consultation to local or regional Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) in the diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect; Provide financial support to part–time local and regional expert clinic staff for the diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect; Collaborate with local or regional child advocacy centers and forensic nurse examiner programs; and Help assure that medical professionals have access to information on how to cooperate with local departments of social services, child advocacy centers, and local law enforcement officers to: Protect children from trauma during the process of child abuse and neglect investigations and prosecution; Minimize the number of times each child is interviewed and examined; and Minimize the potential for influencing a child’s statement.

A Child Abuse Medical Provider (Maryland CHAMP) may receive information from the Department and may consult with the Department on any case: Referred from the Children in Need of Assistance program; Concerning a child committed to the Department or a local department of social services; or Concerning a child who is the subject of a child abuse or neglect investigation.

In fiscal year 2007, the Governor shall include in the State budget an appropriation in the amount of $225,000 for the Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative. In each fiscal year beginning with fiscal 2008, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill submitted to the General Assembly a General Fund appropriation for the Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative in an amount not less than the amount of the General Fund appropriation for the Initiative as approved in the State budget as enacted by the General Assembly for the prior fiscal year, increased by not less than the percentage by which the projected total General Fund revenues for the upcoming fiscal year exceed the revised estimate of total General Fund revenues for the current fiscal year, as contained in the report of the estimated State revenues submitted by the Board of Revenue Estimates to the Governor under § 6–106(b) of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The accounts and transactions of the Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative shall be subject to audit by the Legislative Auditor in accordance with §§ 2–1220 through 2–1227 of the State Government Article.

In this section, “Fund” means the Children’s Trust Fund. There is a Children’s Trust Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding for the Child Abuse Medical Providers (Maryland CHAMP) Initiative. The Department shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The Fund consists of: Fees distributed to the Fund from the issuance of commemorative birth certificates under § 4-217(a)(3) of this article; Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Treasurer shall invest and reinvest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. The Comptroller shall pay out money from the Fund as directed by the Secretary. No part of the Fund may revert or be credited to: The General Fund of the State; or Any other special fund of the State. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.