§ 2-107. Maryland Election Modernization Fund

   (a) Established; characteristics. --

   (1) There is a Maryland Election Modernization Fund.

   (2) The Fund is established as a continuing fund for programs relating to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 and related expenditures.

   (3) The Fund is a special, continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

   (4) The Treasurer shall separately hold and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

   (5) The Fund shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as other State funds.

   (6) Any investment earnings shall be retained to the credit of the Fund.

(b) Composition. -- The Fund consists of:

   (1) moneys appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;

   (2) moneys otherwise appropriated for the purposes of the Fund, which may be transferred to the Fund by an approved budget amendment; and

   (3) moneys received by the State from the federal government under the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 or under other federal programs for similar purposes.

(c) Expenditures. -- Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with an appropriation for:

   (1) complying with requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002;

   (2) improving the administration of elections for federal office;

   (3) educating voters regarding voting procedures, voting rights, and voting technology;

   (4) training election officials, poll workers, and election volunteers;

   (5) developing the State plan required by the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002;

   (6) improving, acquiring, leasing, modifying, or replacing voting systems and technology and methods for casting and counting votes;

   (7) improving the quantity and accessibility of polling places, including providing physical access for individuals with disabilities, nonvisual access for individuals with visual impairments, and access for individuals with limited proficiency in the English language;

   (8) establishing toll-free telephone hotlines that voters may use to report possible voting fraud and voting rights violations, to obtain general election information, and to access detailed automated information on their own voter registration status, specific polling place locations, and other relevant information; and

   (9) any other uses that may be allowed for funds received under the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.

HISTORY: 2003, ch. 197.