§ 8-1104. Administration of Fund

   (a) In general. -- The Office shall administer the Fund as directed by the Executive Committee.

(b) Advisory Board recommendations. --

   (1) Prior to final action by the Executive Committee, the Advisory Board shall review and make recommendations on:

      (i) Program standards;

      (ii) requests for proposals; and

      (iii) criteria for awarding grants.

   (2) A member of the Advisory Board may not vote on or make any recommendation to the Executive Committee if the member has a financial interest that may be substantially affected by that recommendation.

(c) Comprehensive plan. --

   (1) On or before December 15 of each year, the Executive Committee, in consultation with the Advisory Board, shall review and update the comprehensive plan of after-school and summer opportunity programs as described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

   (2) The comprehensive plan shall address at least the following issues:

      (i) integration of public and private funding sources;

      (ii) maximization of federal funding opportunities;

      (iii) consideration of the special needs of disabled children, including needed services, supports, and appropriate provider training;

      (iv) promotion of the use of school buildings and local public transportation resources for after-school and summer opportunity programs;

      (v) where needed, technical assistance for compliance with the Maryland Out of School Time Programs' Quality Standards Framework;

      (vi) promotion of continued expansion of high quality after-school and summer opportunity programs in the State; and

      (vii) integration of any plans developed by local jurisdictions.

(d) Requests for proposals soliciting bids for grants. --

   (1) Each fiscal year, in consultation with the Advisory Board and subject to the availability of money in the Fund, the Executive Committee shall issue a request for proposals under the State procurement law soliciting bids for a grant from the Fund.

   (2) Subject to subsection (b)(2) of this section, the Executive Committee may award a grant from the Fund to an applicant only after consultation with the Advisory Board and upon a favorable vote of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee.

   (3) In any fiscal year, the total grants awarded to applicants operating within a particular county or Baltimore City may not exceed 15% of the total grants awarded in that fiscal year.

   (4) Only nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive a grant.

   (5) The Executive Committee must identify and ensure that a responsible nonprofit organization will administer any grant awarded from the Fund.

(e) Selection of grant recipients. --

   (1) In selecting a nonprofit organization to administer a grant from the Fund, the Executive Committee shall select the responsive and responsible bidder whose application best incorporates features that will have a positive measurable impact on one or more of the conditions of well-being for Maryland children and youth identified by the Maryland Out of School Time Programs' Quality Standards Framework.

   (2) The Executive Committee shall ensure funds are granted to nonprofit organizations in all geographic areas of the State as equitably as possible.

(f) Planning grants. -- The Executive Committee may award a planning grant from the Fund to assist nonprofit organizations in a county to prepare an application for a grant for the next fiscal year.

(g) Capacity building grants. -- The Executive Committee may award a capacity building grant from the Fund to assist nonprofit organizations to increase staff capacity, training, and sustainability of the Programs.

HISTORY: 1999, chs. 585, 586; 2005, ch. 585, § 4, 5; 2012, ch. 530, § 1, 2; ch. 531, § 1, 2.