Sec. 32-26. Duties of program administrator.

   The program administrator must:

   (a)   coordinate services available to a victim;

   (b)   follow up on services provided to a victim;

   (c)   solicit goods, services, and financial donations to assist in the replacement or repair of property of a victim damaged as a result of a crime;

   (d)   make the program more effective by keeping program data and identifying additional services;

   (e)   develop and maintain effective coordination and communication with community and government agencies that provide services to crime victims; and

   (f)   provide information to crime victims and the general public about the compensation and services available through the program. (1987 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; 1998 L.M.C., ch. 25, § 1.)

Sec. 32-27. Eligibility.

   (a)   An individual is eligible for compensation or services under this Article if the individual was a victim of a crime committed in Montgomery County that was reported to an appropriate law enforcement agency within 48 hours after the crime occured or was discovered. The program administrator may waive this deadline if the administrator determines that it was difficult or impossible to meet this deadline.

   (b)   A resident of the County who was a victim of a crime committed outside the County is eligible for

      (1)   services under this Article to the extent that appropriate services are available; and

      (2)   compensation or property replacement under subsections 32-25(a)(4), (5) if comparable assistance is not available from the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. (1987 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; 1998 L.M.C., ch. 25, § 1.)

Sec. 32-28. Crime Victim Compensation Fund.

   (a)   There is a Crime Victim Compensation Fund to compensate victims of crime and provide other financial assistance and services to crime victims.

   (b)   The Fund receives appropriated funds from the County and may receive funds contributed by a private person, other government agency, or any other source. The County should appropriate additional funds to match every $1 of private contributions with $2 of County funds. Unused amounts in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year remain available in the Fund for the next fiscal year unless otherwise appropriated.

   (c)   The program administrator must use funds from the Fund to pay compensation and other financial assistance to victims under this Article, and may use up to 10 percent of the Fund to publicize the Fund and solicit private contributions. (1998 L.M.C., ch. 25, § 1.)

Sec. 32-29. Penalty.

   Any person who makes a false claim under this Article:

   (a)   has committed a Class A violation; and

   (b)   must reimburse the Crime Victim Compensation Fund for any payments from the Fund that were based on the false claim. (1998 L.M.C., ch. 25, § 1.)

Sec. 32-30. Regulations.

   The County Executive must adopt regulations under method (2) to implement this Article. (1987 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; 1998 L.M.C., ch. 25, § 1.)

 Note-Formerly, § 33-28.