In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Adult dependent” means an individual who is: at least 18 years old; an individual with long–term care needs; and the spouse, parent, stepparent, grandparent, child, stepchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, son–in–law, daughter–in–law, mother–in–law, or father–in–law of a family caregiver. “Family caregiver” means an individual who cares for an adult dependent. “Individual with long–term care needs” means an individual who: is unable to perform at least three activities of daily living without substantial assistance from another individual; or is unable to perform at least one activity of daily living without substantial assistance from another individual; and requires substantial supervision to protect the individual from threats to the individual’s health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment. “Program” means the Family Caregiver Assistance Program.

There is a Family Caregiver Assistance Program in the Department. The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to eligible family caregivers to supplement the unmet expenses of caring for an adult dependent.

Funding for the Program shall be as provided in the State budget. The Secretary may accept money provided by other public and private sources, including federal funds, to provide grants under the Program.

A family caregiver is eligible for a grant from the Program if: the family caregiver resides with an adult dependent; the adult dependent has been certified by a licensed physician in the State as an individual with long–term care needs for at least 180 consecutive days during the year; and the family caregiver’s household income is 200% or less of the State median income, as adjusted for family size, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Secretary. The Program may provide eligible family caregivers with a grant of up to $500 per household per year. A grant may be used to fund goods and services required to provide care for an adult dependent including: durable medical equipment; medical bills; medical supplies; prescription or over–the–counter medications; repairs or modifications to the home; and respite care for the family caregiver.

The Secretary shall: adopt regulations to implement the Program; work in cooperation with the Department of Disabilities, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Maryland Commission on Caregiving to promote the Program to family caregivers throughout the State; and report annually to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on: the number of grant requests received; the value of grants provided to family caregivers; the purposes for which the grants were provided; and the number of grant requests that the Program was unable to fund and the reason why those requests were not funded.

The regulations required to be adopted under § 10–705 of this subtitle shall: ensure that the total amount of funding available for grants under the Program is allocated among all counties based on each county’s proportion of the total State adult population; and provide that if a county is unable to use its allocation, any unspent funds shall revert to the Program and be redistributed among all counties.