Criminal Procedure - Crime Solvers Reward Fund - Establishment

HB 198 establishes a permanent Crime Solvers Reward Fund within Maryland's Department of Public Safety to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and county reward programs for paying rewards to individuals who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction in murder or attempted murder cases involving a firearm. The fund, financed through state budget allocations, federal programs, private donations, and interest earnings (which are added back to the fund), must be used exclusively for these specific rewards. To qualify, individuals must not have participated in the crime, must have provided credible, cooperative information, and must have directly aided investigations. The Department of Public Safety must report annually to the legislature on the number of rewards issued and total funds distributed.