<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="grp" article_name="Real Property" number="8-909" title_number="8" title_name="Landlord and Tenant" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Access to Legal Representation in Eviction Cases">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is an Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of the Fund is to provide funding to fully implement access to legal representation in evictions and other related proceedings in the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>MLSC shall administer the Fund.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Money received by the Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General from any final settlement or agreement with or judgment against a party relating to an investigation or enforcement of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act for an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice for rental residential property, excluding any restitution and the costs of the action the Attorney General is entitled to recover;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Money distributed to the Fund under § 17–317 of the Commercial Law Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Interest earnings of the Fund; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Fund may be used only for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Services provided by a designated organization or activity by a community group to implement the Program as provided in this subtitle, including all costs associated with required legal representation in any proceeding and any outreach and education activities;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a local jurisdiction enacts a program authorized under this subtitle, services provided by the local jurisdiction to implement access to counsel in eviction proceedings as provided for in this subtitle, including all costs associated with required legal representation in any proceeding and any outreach and education activities;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Administrative expenses of MLSC; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Expenses related to the study and evaluation of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Services and activities provided under this subtitle; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Funding amounts and sources necessary to fully effectuate access to counsel in eviction proceedings.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $14,000,000 from the Fund to MLSC.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Money expended from the Fund is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for civil legal services from any other source.</text>
  </level>
</section>
