In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Director” means the Director of the Office. “ESOL program” means an English For Speakers of Other Languages program. “Immigrant” means an individual who: is a resident of the State; is not a citizen of the United States; and whose country of origin is a country other than the United States. “Office” means the Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

There is a Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. The head of the Office is the Director. The Director: is appointed by the Governor; serves at the pleasure of the Governor and is responsible directly to the Governor; and is entitled to the salary provided in the State budget. The Office shall: advise the Governor on all matters assigned to the Office; and carry out the Governor’s policies on matters assigned to the Office. The Director shall: manage the operation of the Office and establish guidelines and procedures to promote the orderly and efficient operation of the Office; and adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle. Subject to the provisions of this subtitle, the Director may establish, reorganize, or consolidate areas of responsibility in the Office as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities assigned by the Director. The Office shall employ staff to carry out its duties as provided in the State budget.

Subject to the availability of funding, the Office shall: establish a network of neighborhood–based opportunity centers that provide immigration services to immigrants; increase access to ESOL programs, including by engaging nonprofit organizations and other qualified providers of ESOL programs; assist immigrants in matters relating to immigration status, including assisting with the naturalization process and applications for deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA); connect immigrants to: business resources that use the immigrants’ skills; employment referral programs; and other workforce development programs; develop and leverage immigrants’ skills to benefit the immigrants’ communities and the State; strengthen the connection between immigrants and the immigrants’ communities through civic engagement; reduce exploitation of immigrants; establish a toll–free, multilingual hotline and a website for purposes including: disseminating information about the programs and services offered by the Office; referring for services; and receiving complaints relating to fraud and other related crimes against immigrants; ensure that individuals referred by the Office are directed to persons who are: in compliance with Title 14, Subtitle 33 of the Commercial Law Article; or authorized by the federal Office of Legal Access Programs; using information developed by the Office through the hotline established under this section, assist law enforcement in combating crimes against immigrants; advise the Governor and Director concerning matters affecting immigrants in the State in order to promote and encourage the full participation of immigrants in the State’s civic and economic life; coordinate with other State agencies and otherwise use the resources of the State to serve the needs of immigrants; and encourage and assist local governments in the development of activities to enhance civic engagement among immigrants and in immigrant communities.

On or before June 15, 2022, and each year thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, to the members of the General Assembly a report describing the activities of the Office, including: summaries of calls and queries received through the hotline and website; information on ESOL programs provided by the Office; the estimated or exact number of immigrants assisted through opportunity centers; the status of any workforce development programs; and any other relevant information.