(A) There shall be a Frederick County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (Coordinating Council).
(B) The Coordinating Council will meet at least four times each year.
(C) The Coordinating Council shall:
(1) Advise the County Executive, County Council, and Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission and its members on policies, programs, and legislation necessary to prevent domestic violence and assist victims and their families with safety, stability and services;
(2) Promote and facilitate an effective community wide victim-centered response to domestic violence, including a well-coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to all programs serving victims of domestic violence and their families;
(3) Coordinate with the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and all other county, state, federal, and non-governmental agencies, committees, boards, commissions, and organizations that operate, monitor, provide education or technical assistance or coordinate domestic violence programs or services in the county to maximize the effectiveness of these programs and services;
(4) Develop recommendations to improve the coordination and effectiveness of county, state, federal, and non-governmental multi-disciplinary, victim-centered efforts regarding domestic violence, including prevention, intervention, treatment, law enforcement, prosecution, correctional and advocacy efforts;
(5) Cooperate with any relevant departments, agencies, committees, boards, commissions, and organizations to periodically review the quality and sufficiency of programs and facilities available to domestic violence victims, offenders and their children throughout the county;
(6) Obtain, evaluate and assist in implementing the recommendations of the county's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team established under Md. Code Ann., Title 4, Subtitle 7, the Family Law Article;
(7) Obtain and evaluate statistical data, reports, and other information related to domestic violence, including information regarding innovative efforts by other governmental and non-governmental entities, as necessary to implement the requirements of this section; and
(8) Subject to § 1-2-404, advocate for policies or legislation at the county, state and federal levels that would improve efforts to address domestic violence issues, including prevention, intervention, treatment, law enforcement, prosecution, correctional and advocacy efforts.
(Bill No. 20-09, 7-21-2020)