§748. Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program
1.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A.
"Hate crime" means a crime in which the perpetrator selected the victim or the property that was damaged or otherwise affected by the crime because of the race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or homelessness of the victim or of the owner or occupant of that property.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
B.
"Program" means the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program established in subsection 2.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
C.
"Serious bodily injury" has the same meaning as in Title 17‑A, section 2, subsection 23.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
D.
"Terror attack" means an attack that causes serious bodily injury or death to multiple persons or causes substantial damage to a structure and is made for the purpose of intimidating or coercing a civilian population or to affect the conduct of government.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
2.
Program established.
The Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program is established in the agency to provide grants to assist nonprofit organizations to improve security at property owned or occupied by those nonprofit organizations to protect against hate crimes and terror attacks.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
3.
Eligibility.
To be eligible for a grant from the program, a nonprofit organization must:
A.
Be a tax-exempt organization under 26 United States Code, Section 501(c)(3); and
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
B.
Demonstrate that the organization or the organization's facilities are at high risk of a hate crime or terror attack.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
4.
Use of grants.
A nonprofit organization awarded a grant from the program shall use that grant for:
A.
Physical security enhancements;
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
B.
The cost of security personnel; or
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
C.
The development or enhancement of security plans and protocols.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
5.
Administration.
The agency shall administer the program and shall develop guidelines and criteria to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations under subsection 3 using a request for proposals process.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
6.
Rules.
The agency may adopt routine technical rules as described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A to implement this section.
[PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2025, c. 728, §1 (NEW).