In this subtitle, “Council” means the Cease Fire Council.

There is a Cease Fire Council in the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. The Council consists of 11 members. Of the 11 members of the Council: one shall be the Secretary of Juvenile Services or a designee; one shall be the Secretary of State Police or a designee; one shall be the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services or a designee; one shall be the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy or a designee; two shall be State’s Attorneys who are recommended by the President of the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association, appointed by the Governor; one shall be a sheriff, appointed by the Governor; one shall represent the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, appointed by the Governor; one shall represent the Maryland Municipal Police Executives Association, appointed by the Governor; and two shall represent the public, appointed by the Governor. The appointed members serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The term of an appointed member is 3 years. The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for appointed members of the Council on October 1, 2003. At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. The Secretary of State Police or the Secretary’s designee is 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 under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall provide staff support for the Council. The Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy is the legal advisor to the Council.

The purpose of the Council is to administer the Cease Fire Council Grant Program to support innovative and collaborative firearms violence reduction initiatives. The Council shall: make grants in accordance with § 5-504 of this subtitle; establish or assist in the establishment of programs designed to reduce the incidence of firearms violence related crime and encourage participation in existing programs with these objectives; identify specific goals, objectives, and methodologies to be used in support of programs eligible for funding under this subtitle; identify priorities for firearms violence related crime prevention strategies in the State; and develop criteria to evaluate the outcomes of programs that receive money under this subtitle.

There is a Cease Fire Council Grant Program. The Cease Fire Council Grant Program shall be funded as provided in the State budget. Grants made by the Council shall be used to carry out the purposes of this subtitle. When making grants, the Council shall consider and give priority to: comprehensive and coordinated law enforcement and prosecution programs that target criminals and juveniles who use or illegally possess firearms; law enforcement and prosecution salaries and overtime in support of firearm violence reduction programs; covert firearms-related investigations and debriefing of criminal and juvenile arrestees and offenders for information related to illegal firearms trafficking; initiatives that support the tracing of firearms used to commit crimes or delinquent acts and the identification of illegal firearms traffickers; purchases of technology and information systems to support firearm violence reduction initiatives; and other efforts that aid in apprehending and prosecuting criminals or apprehending and filing a complaint against juveniles who use or illegally possess firearms. Expenditures from the Cease Fire Council Grant Program may be made only in accordance with the State budget or by budget amendment. The Council shall adopt regulations for the grant process and the oversight of grants made by the Council.