1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   2. (2) “Entertainment district” means a one-half square mile area in the State in which one of the following is present:

      1. (i) a high density of establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption;
      2. (ii) a high density of establishments that are hookah bars; or
      3. (iii) a high density of establishments that regularly host live entertainment for their patrons or members of the public.
   3. (3) “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services.
2. (b) There is a Maryland Entertainment District Security Grant Program.
3. (c) The purpose of the Program is to assist community organizations, nonprofit entities, and local governments to fund security operations during times of high pedestrian traffic in entertainment districts from which a higher than average number of calls for police assistance in response to reported crime are placed.

4. (d) The Executive Director shall establish:

   1. (1) an application process for community organizations and nonprofit entities located in entertainment districts, and local governments with entertainment districts located within the jurisdiction, to apply for grant funding from the Program;
   2. (2) eligibility criteria for selecting recipients for grant funding from the Program; and

   3. (3) minimum criteria for an entertainment district for the purpose of determining eligibility for grant funding from the Program, including:

      1. (i) the density of establishments licensed to serve alcohol for on-site consumption, hookah bars, or establishments that regularly host live entertainment for their patrons or members of the public;
      2. (ii) the amount of pedestrian traffic; and
      3. (iii) the number of calls for police assistance in response to reported crimes.

Added by Acts 2024, c. 746, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 747, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2024.