Section 1-322 - Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund(a)(1) There is a Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund.(2) The purpose of the Fund is to provide funds to community-based organizations that serve communities determined by the Office of Social Equity, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to have been the most impacted by disproportionate enforcement of the cannabis prohibition before July 1, 2022.(3) The Comptroller shall administer the Fund.(4)(i) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.(ii) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.(5) The Fund consists of: (i) sales and use tax revenue distributed to the Fund under § 2-1302.2 of the Tax - General Article;(ii) conversion fees paid by businesses under § 36-403 of this article; and(iii) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund, in accordance with any conditions adopted by the Comptroller for the acceptance of donations or gifts to the Fund.(6)(i) The Fund may be used only for: 1. funding community-based initiatives intended to benefit low-income communities;2. funding community-based initiatives that serve disproportionately impacted areas, as defined in § 36-101 of this article; and3. any related administrative expenses.(ii) Money may not be expended from the Fund for law enforcement agencies or activities.(iii) Money expended from the Fund is supplemental to and may not supplant funding that otherwise would be appropriated for preexisting local government programs.(7)(i) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.(ii) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.(8) No part of the Fund may revert or be credited to: (i) the General Fund of the State; or(ii) any other special fund of the State.(9) The Comptroller shall pay out money from the Fund.(10) The Fund is subject to audit by the Office of Legislative Audits as provided for in § 2-1220 of the State Government Article.(b)(1) Based on the percentage allocable to each county determined by the Office of Social Equity and reported by the Office to the Comptroller on or before July 31 each year, the Comptroller shall distribute funds from the Fund to each county in an amount that, for the period from July 1, 2002, to January 1, 2023, both inclusive, is proportionate to the total number of cannabis possession charges in the county compared to the total number of cannabis possession charges in the State.(2) Subject to the limitations under subsection (a)(6) of this section, each county shall adopt a law establishing the purpose for which money received from the Fund may be used. Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 241,Sec. 1, eff. 4/25/2024.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 255, Sec. 5, eff. 5/3/2023.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 254, Sec. 5, eff. 5/3/2023.