In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Eligible neighborhood” means a neighborhood that includes census tracts with more than 30% of children living in poverty and is served by, as defined by the Office, a community school with a concentration of poverty level, as defined in § 5–223 of the Education Article, of: in fiscal year 2025 and 2026, at least 80%; in fiscal year 2027 through fiscal year 2029, at least 75%; in fiscal year 2030, at least 60%; and in fiscal year 2031, and each fiscal year thereafter, at least 55%. “Fund” means the ENOUGH Grant Fund. “Office” means the Governor’s Office for Children. “Program” means the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households (ENOUGH) Grant Program. “Special Secretary” means the Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office for Children.

There is a Governor’s Office for Children. The head of the Office is the Special Secretary of the Governor’s Office for Children.

Subject to the requirements of this section, the Special Secretary shall establish an ENOUGH grant program designed to advance place–based strategies targeting child poverty. The purpose of ENOUGH grants made by the Office under this section is to: increase community health and safety; provide “cradle to career” access to high–quality education and care; connect residents to quality jobs and in–demand occupations; enable family–sustaining income and access to affordable high–quality housing, child care, and health care, including reproductive, maternal, behavioral, and mental health care; provide high–quality support for children with disabilities, child welfare, and justice–involved youth and young adults; connect individuals to State programs; and leverage federal, local, and private funding for the eligible neighborhood. The Office shall annually identify and communicate to each local government eligible neighborhoods for the Program. The Office may determine that because of the close proximity of eligible neighborhoods and their similarities in residents and needs that a regional neighborhood would maximize resources for the neighborhood. A regional neighborhood may not receive less funding under the Program because of the coordination of multiple eligible neighborhoods. Once the Office identifies an eligible neighborhood for the Program, the Office shall engage with the neighborhood community, seek input from residents, and approve a lead partner for the neighborhood. A lead partner may be a: local management board; local governmental entity; community action agency; local community organization; or nonprofit organization. The Office shall establish qualifications, standards, and processes for determining the lead partner for the neighborhood. The Office may assign staff or provide technical assistance to assist the neighborhood. The lead partner shall coordinate all aspects of the Program for the neighborhood and any other responsibilities defined by the Office. Subject to the availability of funds, each lead partner shall receive a grant from the Office, in an amount determined by the Office, to complete a needs assessment for the eligible neighborhood. Each needs assessment shall include: an assessment of the physical, behavioral, mental health, education, housing, economic, and safety needs of the community; an immediate plan to achieve the purpose of the Program, if applicable to the eligible neighborhood; a long–term plan, including goals, for the eligible neighborhood; a description of where State funding is being requested to be spent in the eligible neighborhood; and any additional standards required by the Office. The Office shall establish the standards and policies for developing a needs assessment for each eligible neighborhood, including: opportunity for engagement and input by members of the eligible neighborhood’s community; local management board input and assistance; and deadlines and review processes. The needs assessment shall supplement and not conflict with the needs assessment completed for the community school served by the eligible neighborhood. In completing the needs assessment, the lead partner shall coordinate with the local community school, a community based organization, and the local government. In completing the needs assessment, the lead partner may coordinate with: local community organizations; union or worker organizations; anchor institutions, including local health care organizations, institutions of higher education, workforce investment boards, or local care management teams; local law enforcement agencies; or faith–based organizations. If an eligible neighborhood has completed a recent assessment similar to the needs assessment required under this section, the Office may require the eligible neighborhood to only submit an abbreviated needs assessment that addresses the requirements of this section. At the request of the lead partner, the Office may assist the lead partner to complete a needs assessment. The lead partner shall submit the needs assessment to the Office for approval. If approved, and subject to the availability of funds, the Office shall provide a neighborhood implementation grant, in an amount determined by the Office, to the lead partner who has met standards established by the Office, to complete the items in the eligible neighborhood’s needs assessment. The Office may consult with entities that it deems relevant to support ENOUGH partnerships.

The Office may apply for, receive, and spend grants–in–aid by the federal government or any of its agencies, the private sector, or any other funds made available to the Office for use in carrying out the powers and duties of the Special Secretary or the Office. Beginning in fiscal year 2025 and in each fiscal year thereafter, the Office shall prepare an annual report of the ENOUGH grant program that includes: accounting of financial receipts and expenditures; and progress and outcome metrics as defined by the Office. On or before June 1, 2027, the Office shall conduct an evaluation of the ENOUGH grant program and report its findings to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment, the House Appropriations Committee, and Health and Government Operations Committee, and the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. The report made under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include an analysis of: the progress made in jurisdictions receiving ENOUGH grants based on the outcome metrics produced by the grant recipients; the impact of program activities with respect to reducing the number of children living in poverty; and policy changes enacted at the State and local level designed to enable better coordination and efficacy.

There is an ENOUGH Grant Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to support ENOUGH grants made by the Office under § 9–2803 of this subtitle. The Special Secretary 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. The Fund consists of: money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; interest earnings; and any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund may be used only for ENOUGH grants made under § 9–2803 of this subtitle. 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 2026, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $15,000,000 to the Fund. An appropriation made under subsection (i) of this section is supplemental to and not intended to take the place of any federal funding received for place–based support.