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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0605*
HOUSE BILL 605
E4 6lr0773
HB 180/25 – JUD
By: Delegates Addison, Young, Embry, Guzzone, Kaufman, Mireku –North,
Stinnett, Taveras, and Wims
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2026
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program – Establishment 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program within the 3
Victim Services Unit of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to 4
provide certain victims of gun violence certain services and assistance related to 5
relocating for the safety of the victim or the victim’s family; establishing the Gun 6
Violence Victim Relocation Program Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring 7
interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; requiring the Victim 8
Services Unit to establish a certain oversight commission; and generally relating to 9
the Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Criminal Procedure 12
Section 11–1102 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2025 Replacement Volume) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Public Safety 17
Section 5–901 through 5–907 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 9. Gun Violence 18
Victim Relocation Program” 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
Article – State Finance and Procurement 23
Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) and (ii) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26
2 HOUSE BILL 605
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – State Finance and Procurement 2
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)212. and 213. 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
BY adding to 6
Article – State Finance and Procurement 7
Section 6–226(a)(2)(iii)214. 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Criminal Procedure 13
11–1102. 14
(a) There is a Victim Services Unit in the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention 15
and Policy. 16
(b) The Unit consists of: 17
(1) the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board under Subtitle 8 of this title; 18
(2) the program for sexual assault forensic examinations under § 11 –1007 19
of this title; 20
(3) THE GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION PROGRAM UNDER 21
TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 9 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE; 22
[(3)] (4) a restitution section; and 23
[(4)] (5) any other program that provides victim services under the 24
Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy that the Executive Director determines 25
would benefit from inclusion under the Unit. 26
Article – Public Safety 27
SUBTITLE 9. GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION PROGRAM. 28
5–901. 29
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 30
INDICATED. 31
HOUSE BILL 605 3
(B) “FUND” MEANS THE GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION PROGRAM 1
FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER § 5–906 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION 3
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER § 5–902 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 4
(D) “VICTIM SERVICES UNIT” MEANS THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT WITHIN 5
THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF CRIME PREVENTION AND POLICY ESTABLISHED 6
UNDER § 11–1102 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ARTICLE. 7
5–902. 8
(A) THERE IS A GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION PROGRAM WITHIN 9
THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT. 10
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST IN THE RELOCATION OF 11
VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THE STATE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL–BEING 12
OF VICTIMS AND VICTIMS’ FAMILIES. 13
(C) THIS SUBTITLE SHALL B E LIBERALLY CONSTRUE D AND APPLIED TO 14
PROMOTE ITS UNDERLYING PURPOSE. 15
5–903. 16
(A) (1) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY REQUEST PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM 17
THROUGH THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT. 18
(2) AN INDIVIDUAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTA NCE THROUGH THE 19
PROGRAM IF: 20
(I) THE INDIVIDUAL IS A VICTIM OF GUN VIOLEN CE IN THE 21
STATE; 22
(II) 1. THE INDIVIDUAL EXPER IENCED THE VIOLENCE 23
WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE INDIVIDUAL’S HOME; OR 24
2. THE INDIVIDUAL LIVES IN CLOSE P ROXIMITY TO A 25
PERSON WHO IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED THE VIOLENCE; AND 26
(III) THE INDIVIDUAL DEMON STRATES A NEED TO BE 27
RELOCATED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE INDIVIDUAL’S FAMILY. 28
4 HOUSE BILL 605
(3) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 1
PARAGRAPH, THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL ACCEPT ANY ELIGIBLE 2
INDIVIDUAL INTO THE PROGRAM. 3
(II) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT MAY NOT ACCEPT A N 4
INDIVIDUAL INTO THE PROGRAM IF THE INDIVI DUAL IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE 5
PERPETRATED THE VIOLENCE. 6
(B) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL KEEP THE P ERSONAL 7
INFORMATION OF AN IN DIVIDUAL WHO APPLIES FOR THE PROGRAM UNDER 8
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION CONF IDENTIAL, INCLUDING THE ADDRES S AND 9
ANY OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL. 10
5–904. 11
(A) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL ASSIST AN ELIG IBLE VICTIM 12
ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM BY: 13
(1) RELOCATING THE VICTI M AND THE VICTIM ’S FAMILY TO A SAFE 14
LOCATION; 15
(2) PROVIDING THE VICTIM WITH FINANCIAL ASSIS TANCE FOR 16
MOVING EXPENSES, SECURITY DEPOSIT, AND RENT; AND 17
(3) PROVIDING OTHER SUPPORT SE RVICES, INCLUDING 18
COUNSELING, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, JOB TRAINING, AND RESOURCES AND SE RVICES 19
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 20
(B) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL: 21
(1) COLLABORATE WITH OTH ER STATE AND LOCAL AGENC IES, 22
INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOUSING AUTHORITIES, AND SOCIAL SERVICES, TO 23
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS UNDER THE PROGRAM; 24
(2) CONDUCT COMMUNITY OU TREACH IN ORDER TO E DUCATE THE 25
PUBLIC ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND TO ENCOURAGE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE TO 26
SEEK ASSISTANCE UNDER THE PROGRAM; AND 27
(3) WORK TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS UNDER THE PROGRAM WHO ARE 28
RENTERS ARE PROTECTE D FROM EVICTION OR F ROM BEING DENIED REN TAL 29
HOUSING BASED ON THE VICTIM’S STATUS IN THE PROGRAM. 30
(C) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL ADOPT RULE S AND REGULATIONS 31
HOUSE BILL 605 5
NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 1
5–905. 2
THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL ESTABLISH AN APPEAL PROCESS FOR AN 3
INDIVIDUAL DETERMINED TO BE INELIGIBLE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE UNDER THE 4
PROGRAM. 5
5–906. 6
(A) THERE IS A GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION PROGRAM FUND. 7
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 8
SUBTITLE. 9
(C) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 10
(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 11
SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 12
(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 13
AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 14
(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF: 15
(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 16
(2) PRIVATE DONATIONS; 17
(3) INTEREST EARNINGS; AND 18
(4) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 19
THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 20
(F) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSE OF 21
THE FUND. 22
(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MONEY OF THE FUND 23
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE INVESTED. 24
(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITED TO 25
THE FUND. 26
6 HOUSE BILL 605
(H) NO PART OF THE FUND MAY REVERT OR BE CREDITED TO: 1
(1) THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE; OR 2
(2) ANY OTHER SPECIAL FUND OF THE STATE. 3
(I) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 4
WITH THE STATE BUDGET. 5
(J) THE FUND IS SUBJECT TO AU DIT BY THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE 6
AUDITS AS PROVIDED IN § 2–1220 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 7
5–907. 8
(A) THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL ESTABLISH AN OVERSIGHT 9
COMMISSION TO ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM IS BEING ADMINISTERED PROPERLY 10
AND THAT THE FUND IS BEING USED APPROPRIATELY. 11
(B) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR , BEGINNING IN 2028, THE 12
VICTIM SERVICES UNIT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAM 13
TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 14
GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT INCLUDES: 15
(1) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM; 16
(2) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM; 17
(3) THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE VICTIMS UNDER THE 18
PROGRAM; 19
(4) AN OUTLINE OF HOW TH E FUND IS USED TO SUPPO RT THE 20
PROGRAM; 21
(5) AN EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM; AND 22
(6) ANY OTHER INFORMATIO N THAT MAY BE USEFUL IN 23
DETERMINING THE PROGRAM’S EFFECTIVENESS. 24
Article – State Finance and Procurement 25
6–226. 26
(a) (2) (i) This paragraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 27
HOUSE BILL 605 7
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 1
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 2
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 3
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entit led to 4
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 5
Fund of the State. 6
(iii) The provisions of subparagraph (i i) of this paragraph do not 7
apply to the following funds: 8
212. the Department of Social an d Economic Mobility Special 9
Fund; [and] 10
213. the Population Health Improvement Fund; AND 11
214. THE GUN VIOLENCE VICTIM RELOCATION PROGRAM 12
FUND. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, for fiscal year 2028, the 14
Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $10,000,000 to the Gun 15
Violence Victim Relocation Program Fund established under Title 5, Subtitle 9 of the Public 16
Safety Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 17
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2026. 19