<section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-101" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Community action agency” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a governmental unit in a political subdivision;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a governmental unit created by a combination of political subdivisions;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>an agency designated as a community action agency under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as amended by the Community Services Block Grant Program, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9901 through 9926; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>a private, nonprofit organization that meets the requirements for designation as a community action agency.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Designation” means the selection of a proposed community action agency by a governing body.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Governing body” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the county council, board of commissioners, or other legislative body of a political subdivision that collectively possesses the power to adopt and carry out local laws and ordinances; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>in Baltimore City, the Board of Estimates.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-102" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <text>The General Assembly finds that the economic and social well–being of State residents is intrinsic to the strength and viability of the State as a whole.</text> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-103" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <text>The purposes of this title are to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>strengthen the ability of communities to plan and coordinate available federal, State, local, and private resources by making the resources more responsive to local needs and conditions; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>strengthen, supplement, and coordinate efforts to combat the causes and problems of poverty in the State by:</text> <level label="i"> <text>mobilizing resources of private and public economic entities to increase opportunities for low–income State residents to develop skills, knowledge, and capabilities;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>developing the full potential of low–income State residents so that everyone can live in decency and dignity and achieve individual and family self–sufficiency; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>promoting the development, evaluation, and use of new approaches to attack the causes and problems of poverty.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-104" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A political subdivision may designate a community action agency to serve a community within the political subdivision or may change or revoke a designation by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>an act, an ordinance, or a resolution of its governing body; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>an order of its chief executive, if the chief legal officer certifies in writing that the chief executive has power to make the designation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The governing body shall notify the public and hold a public hearing before a designation is made, changed, or revoked.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A transition or close-down plan shall accompany the notification of a proposed change or revocation of a designation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A change in or revocation of a designation takes effect at the start of the State fiscal year.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-105" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A community action agency shall administer its programs through a community action board.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A community action board shall meet the requirements for a tripartite board under 42 U.S.C. § 9910.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If a community action agency is a governmental unit:</text> <level label="1"> <text>its community action board may serve as an advisory body; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>with the approval of the governing body, the governmental unit may delegate to the community action board any of its powers or responsibilities under this title.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-106" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A community action agency may accept and administer:</text> <level label="i"> <text>financial assistance received under this title;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>money and contributions from private or local public sources for community action programs;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>money from State or federal assistance programs under which a public or private nonprofit organization may act as a grantee, contractor, or sponsor of projects suitable for community action programs; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>federal money from federal block grants previously designated as antipoverty money, subject to applicable federal law.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A community action agency may transfer money and delegate responsibility to a subsidiary board, council, or similar agency for projects designed to further community action program objectives.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Responsibility for making policy determinations, including the characters, funding, extent, and administration of and budgeting for programs or projects affecting a particular geographic area in a community may be delegated by a community action agency to a subsidiary board, council, or similar agency if the subsidiary body is broadly representative of the area.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-107" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A community action agency shall plan systematically for an effective community action program, and in doing so shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>evaluate information on the causes and problems of poverty in the community;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>assess the use and impact of current financial assistance; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>establish priorities among projects, activities, and target areas to achieve the best and most efficient use of resources.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A community action agency shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>encourage subsidiary boards, councils, and agencies engaged in projects related to a community action program to plan for, secure, and administer available financial assistance on a cooperative basis; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>provide technical and organizational assistance to the subsidiary boards, councils, and agencies.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A community action agency shall actively supplement local efforts to combat poverty by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>focusing resources on the most needy;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>providing employment opportunities for low–income persons;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>closing service gaps; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>enabling low–income persons to participate in community action programs and projects.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A community action agency shall initiate and sponsor community projects to help meet the needs of low–income persons with particular emphasis on:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establishing a pool of resources to serve a variety of community action programs;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>developing versatile approaches and services; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>implementing stopgap measures pending the expansion or modification of community action programs.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>A community action agency shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establish procedures for community residents to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>influence the character of their community action programs; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>participate regularly in implementing those programs; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>provide the necessary technical and advisory support to enable low–income persons and community groups to secure public and private financial assistance for themselves.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>A community action agency shall join with and encourage business, labor, and other private or public officials and organizations to support community action programs that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>use private resources and capabilities for new employment opportunities;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>stimulate investments that measurably reduce poverty in areas of concentrated poverty; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>provide residents in those areas with methods to work with private organizations, firms, and institutions to seek solutions to problems of common concern.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-107.1" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2027 PER CHAPTER 725 OF 2022" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to the appropriation of funding in accordance with subsection (c) of this section, during fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026, Southern Maryland Tri–County Community Action Committee, Inc., United Communities Against Poverty, Inc., and Community Assistance Network, Inc., in collaboration with the appropriate local health department, shall make available feminine hygiene products, as defined in § 4–2401 of this article, in an amount sufficient to meet the needs of the woman obtaining the feminine hygiene products.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Southern Maryland Tri–County Community Action Committee, Inc., United Communities Against Poverty, Inc., and Community Assistance Network, Inc. may not require payment for the feminine hygiene products made available under subsection (a) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>For fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill funding in an amount estimated to be sufficient for providing feminine hygiene products as required under this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>On or before December 1, 2026, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the implementation of this section and any findings and recommendations.</text> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-108" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <text>The Secretary may provide financial assistance to designated community action agencies in accordance with distribution standards set by regulation.</text> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-109" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The regulations shall include provisions that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>ensure that each designated community action agency receives at least as much federal money as the community action agency received in federal fiscal year 1994, unless the federal funding is reduced; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>allocate remaining federal money to those community action agencies that received a lesser share of program federal money in federal fiscal year 1994 than they would have received based on the number of persons in the local jurisdiction with household income below the poverty line set by the federal Office of Management and Budget as a percentage of the number of persons in the State with household income below that line.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>By regulation, the Secretary shall adopt standards for distributing financial assistance under § 8–108 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The distribution standards shall include the percentage of persons in poverty, based on the most current census population information.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The distribution standards may address specific problems in rural communities, minimum financing necessary to maintain program operations, and the potential for additional local and private financing.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="ghs" article_name="Housing and Community Development" number="8-110" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2032 PER CHAPTER 288 OF 2025" title_number="8" title_name="Community Action Agencies" subtitle_number="1"> <text>For each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $250,000 to the Department to be used solely as an operating grant to eligible community action agencies.</text> </section>