In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Commercial motor vehicle” has the meaning stated in § 16-803 of the Transportation Article. “Council” means the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. “Fund” means the Vehicle Theft Prevention Fund.

There is a Vehicle Theft Prevention Council in the Department. The purpose of the Council is to help prevent and deter theft of private passenger and commercial motor vehicles and related crime, including vandalism and theft of property from vehicles, in the State. The Council consists of the following 13 members appointed by the Governor: as ex officio members of the Council: the Secretary or a designee; the Secretary of Juvenile Services or a designee; the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services or a designee; and the Motor Vehicle Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Administration; and nine regular members. Of the nine regular members: one member shall represent a local law enforcement agency; one member shall represent a State’s Attorney’s office in the State; one member shall represent a domestic insurer that issues private passenger automobile or commercial motor vehicle liability insurance in the State; one member shall represent a foreign insurer that issues private passenger automobile or commercial motor vehicle liability insurance in the State; one member shall represent the Governor’s Office; one member shall represent the National Insurance Crime Bureau or a similar organization; and three members shall represent the public, including one member who represents a neighborhood or community association. The members serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The term of a regular member is 3 years. The terms of the regular members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Council on October 1, 2003. At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The Governor shall appoint the Chairman of the Council. A member of the Council: may not receive compensation as a member of the Council; but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses from the Fund in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations. The Council shall employ an executive director, who shall be appointed by the Governor. The expenses of the Council, including staff salaries and administrative expenses, shall be paid from the Fund but may not exceed 7% of the total expenditures from the Fund in a fiscal year. The Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Department is the legal advisor to the Council. The Council has the following powers and duties: to make grants from the Fund for motor vehicle theft intervention programs, as provided in § 2-703 of this subtitle; to solicit and accept money for deposit into the Fund, to be used to carry out the purposes of this subtitle; to establish or assist in the establishment of programs designed to reduce the incidence of vehicle theft and related crime; to identify priorities for theft prevention strategies in the State and criteria for the Council’s evaluation of recipients of assistance from the Council; and to study and propose laws that will further prevent and deter vehicle theft and related crime. The Council shall develop and implement a plan of operation.

There is a Vehicle Theft Prevention Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: money received by the Fund under § 17-106 of the Transportation Article; money received by the Council or the Fund from any source; and investment earnings of the Fund. The money of the Fund shall be invested in the same manner as other State money. The Council shall spend money in the Fund in the following order of priority: to pay the expenses of the Council; and to carry out the purposes of this subtitle. When making grants from the Fund, the Council shall consider and prioritize the following entities and programs: State and local law enforcement agencies: to enhance vehicle theft enforcement and prevention teams or efforts; and for programs designed to reduce the incidence of vehicle theft; local prosecutors and judicial agencies, for enhanced prosecution and adjudication of vehicle theft crime; neighborhood, community, or business organizations, for programs designed to reduce the incidence of vehicle theft; educational programs designed to inform motor vehicle owners of methods to prevent motor vehicle theft and to provide equipment, for experimental purposes, to enable motor vehicle owners to prevent motor vehicle theft; programs designed to reduce the incidence of vehicle theft and recidivism by juveniles; and programs designed to reduce or deter damage or vandalism to vehicles in connection with vehicle theft or theft of property from vehicles. To the extent practicable, the Council shall allocate grants made under this subtitle among the subdivisions of the State on a pro rata basis determined by the total number of vehicles registered in each subdivision divided by the total number of vehicles registered in the State. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only: in accordance with the State budget; or by the budget amendment procedure as provided in § 7-209 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, if at least 45 days have passed since the budget amendment and supporting information were submitted to the budget committees for their review and comment. The proposed budget and any budget amendment submitted to the General Assembly shall include an itemized list of each grant and other expenditure from the Fund to be made in the fiscal year.