Pursuant to Public Safety Article, Title 5, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland, there is a Cease Fire Council within the Department of State Police. The office of the Cease Fire Council is 1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208. General Powers and Duties. The Council shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred upon it by statute or by other applicable law or regulation. Specific Powers and Duties. The Council is established to administer a State grant program to support innovative and collaborative firearms violence reduction initiatives. The Council shall: Award grants in accordance with Regulation .08 of this chapter; 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 chapter; Identify priorities for firearms violence related crime prevention strategies in the State; and Develop criteria for the evaluation of the outcomes of programs that receive funds. The Secretary of State Police, or the Secretary's designee, shall serve as chairman of the council. The Council shall meet periodically at the request of the chairman of the Council or by request of a majority of the members. The Council shall keep a record of all meetings. Minutes of each meeting of the Council shall be prepared in accordance with State Government Article, §10-509, Annotated Code of Maryland. A copy of the minutes shall be mailed by the chairman or the chairman's designee to each member of the Council in advance of the next scheduled meeting, and consideration of the minutes shall be included as an item on the agenda of that meeting. The minutes of each past meeting shall be reviewed by the members of the Council, revised as necessary, and then adopted as the official record of its proceedings. Six members constitute a quorum for all meetings. Decisions shall be by majority vote of the membership of the Council. All votes shall be recorded. Members of the Council shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses pursuant to the standard State travel regulations. The program shall be funded as provided in the State budget. Grants approved by the Council shall be used to carry out the purposes and objectives of this chapter. An applicant for a grant shall submit an application provided by the Council. Grants approved by the Council shall be used to carry out the purposes and objectives of this chapter. The Council shall consider and give priority to the following when making program awards: Comprehensive and coordinated law enforcement and prosecution programs which 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 the apprehension and prosecution of criminals and juveniles who use or illegally possess firearms. Public Safety Article, Title 5, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: Regulations .01—.10 adopted as an emergency provision effective October 1, 2000 (27:20 Md. R. 1836); emergency status expired March 29, 2001; adopted permanently effective April 2, 2001 (28:6 Md. R. 622)