In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. “Fund” means the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Fund. “Local law enforcement agency” means an agency of a county or municipal corporation in the State that performs police protection functions. “Task Force” means the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force established by the Department of State Police.

There is an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to provide: grants to local law enforcement agencies for salaries, training, and equipment to be used for the investigation and prosecution of Internet crimes against children; and funding to support the ongoing operations of the Task Force. The Executive Director 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 State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund in conjunction with the Executive Director. The Fund consists of: money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; interest earnings of the Fund; and any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund shall be distributed on the basis of need, as determined by the Executive Director, in the following manner: for grants to local law enforcement agencies for salaries, training, and equipment to be used for the investigation and prosecution of Internet crimes against children; to the Task Force to support the ongoing operations of the Task Force; and in an amount not greater than 25% of the Fund, to child advocacy centers, as established under § 11–923(h) of the Criminal Procedure Article. The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget. For fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of not less than $2,000,000 to the Fund. The accounts and transactions of the Fund shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor as provided in § 2–1220 of the State Government Article.

Before the distribution of grant funds, grant recipients shall execute a memorandum of understanding with the Task Force and agree to work with the Task Force, abiding by Task Force guidelines and protocols related to the investigation and prosecution of Internet crimes against children. After receiving a grant award, the local law enforcement agency shall submit a report detailing the use of grant expenditures to the Executive Director.