# Sec. 11-328. Length of Service Award Program

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Sec. 11-328. Length of Service Award Program

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 11-328 (2026)

(a) There is hereby established a Length of Service Award program for active volunteer members of the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department.

(b) Eligibility. Beginning July 1, 2005, any person who has reached the age of fifty-five (55) and who has completed a minimum of twenty-five (25) years of certified active volunteer service with any Prince George's County volunteer fire company or volunteer rescue squad or combination thereof shall be eligible to participate in the Length of Service Award Program. The requirements for eligibility are:

  (1) The member must meet the active membership test under the procedures established herein.

  (2) Classification as an "active" member by an individual department bylaws is not sufficient to be eligible.

  (3) Volunteer members of the fire department of the City of Takoma Park shall not be eligible to participate in the program.

(c) Benefits.

  (1) Effective July 1, 2005, and thereafter, any volunteer who has completed twenty-five (25) years of certified active service within the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department upon reaching age fifty-five (55) shall receive a payment of One Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($125.00) per month for fiscal year 1988; One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) per month for fiscal year 1989; One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00) per month for fiscal year 1990; Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per month for fiscal year 1991 through fiscal year 2000; and Two Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($225.00) per month for fiscal year 2001 and for each fiscal year thereafter until June 30, 2015. Effective July 1, 2015, and thereafter, any volunteer currently receiving benefits or that has served twenty-five (25) years and attained the age of fifty-five (55) as of July 1, 2015, shall receive a payment of Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($350.00) per month for fiscal year 2016; Three Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($375.00) per month for fiscal year 2017; Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) per month for fiscal year 2018; and Four Hundred Fifty Dollars ($450.00) per month for fiscal year 2019 and for each fiscal year thereafter.

  (2) A payment of Eight Dollars ($8.00) per month shall be added to the benefits described above, for each full year of certified service in excess of twenty-five (25) years. Payments shall begin on the first day of the month following eligibility. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all members currently receiving benefits upon certification of additional years.

  (3) In the event that an active volunteer fireman or rescue squadsman (for purposes of this Subsection only herein defined as one who has a minimum of ten (10) years active certified service with five (5) years immediately preceding) attains the age of seventy (70), he shall be entitled to a payment of Eight Dollars ($8.00) per month for each year of certified service. Payments shall begin on the first day following eligibility.

  (4) Once a member is receiving benefits under Subsections (c)(1) or (2), that member may annually accrue additional benefits by certified active service.

  (5) In the event that:

    (A) Any active volunteer is found by the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission to be permanently disabled in the course of his employment as a volunteer fireman or rescue squadsman, as defined by the State Workers' Compensation Law; and

    (B) Such disability is found by a competent medical authority, designated by the County Executive of Prince George's County, to prevent the volunteer from pursuing his or her normal occupation; then

    (C) Such volunteer shall receive the benefits prescribed in Subsection (c)(1), as though he had twenty-five (25) years of service and had attained the age of fifty-five (55) years.

These benefits shall begin on the first day of the month following the establishment of entitlement by the medical authority established by the County Executive, and shall be retroactive to the date of injury where such date is clearly established or in the absence thereof, the date of determination of entitlement by the Workers' Compensation Commission. Claims for disability must be filed within one (1) year after the date of injury.

(6) Once a member has received benefits under Subsection (c)(5) he may not accrue additional benefits for subsequent service.

(7) (A) In the event that any qualified volunteer shall die while receiving benefits, then his or her surviving spouse is entitled to benefits equal to fifty percent (50%) of the volunteer's benefits. These benefits shall terminate upon death or remarriage of the spouse.

  (B) In the event that a qualified volunteer dies prior to receiving any benefits under this Section, his or her surviving spouse is entitled to benefits equal to fifty percent (50%) of the benefits earned by the deceased volunteer. These benefits shall terminate upon death or remarriage of the spouse. A qualified volunteer is defined as one who has completed twenty-five (25) years of certified service, or is qualified to receive benefits under this Act.

  (C) Any surviving spouse receiving benefits pursuant to Subsection (c)(1) on June 30, 1987, shall be entitled to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month effective January 1, 1992. Effective July 1, 2000, any surviving spouse receiving benefits pursuant to Subsection (c)(1) on July 1, 2000, shall be entitled to One Hundred Twenty-five Dollars ($125.00) per month. Effective July 1, 2014, and thereafter, any surviving spouse receiving benefits pursuant to Subsection (c)(1) shall be entitled to a minimum of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per month.

(8) When a qualified volunteer dies after July 1, 2005, a burial benefit of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) shall be paid to the surviving spouse, and if there is no surviving spouse to the estate of the decedent. Effective July 1, 2014, and thereafter, the burial benefit shall be Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). A qualified volunteer is defined as one who has completed twenty-five (25) years of service or is qualified to receive benefits under this Section.

(d) Funding. The Fire Commission will annually submit with the Volunteer Fire Department budgets a request for funds to pay administrative expenses and to pay those volunteer members who are eligible or will become eligible for the program. The request shall identify by name each member to receive payment and specify the number of months for which payment will be made to that individual during the fiscal year, if for less than a full year.

(e) Administration.

  (1) The program shall be administered by the Office of Human Resources Management in accordance with standards and procedures established by the Prince George's County Fire Commission, the Office of Human Resources Management, and the Prince George's County Office of Finance.

  (2) The Prince George's County Fire Commission and/or the Prince George's County Office of Finance and the Prince George's County Office of Audits and Investigations shall have the authority to audit records of volunteer participation in addition to any other audits required by law. The County Executive shall make available to the Fire Commission any temporary secretarial or clerical assistance as may become necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(f) Certification. It shall be the responsibility of each participating department to maintain a detailed and accurate record for each volunteer member in accordance with the following:

  (1) All records shall be maintained on forms prescribed by the Prince George's County Fire Commission.

  (2) Annually on or before November 15, the Board of Directors of each department shall certify and furnish to the County Fire Commission a list of all volunteer members who have qualified for credit for the previous year. In the event a volunteer requests credit for service in more than one department, each department shall provide the points earned by that volunteer for that year. This certification shall be signed by the President and Secretary.

  (3) The County Fire Commission shall review the list of each department and approve the final annual certification. The approved list of certified members shall then be returned to each department and posted for at least thirty (30) days for review by members.

  (4) In computing credit for those volunteers who also serve as paid employees within the Prince George's County Fire/Rescue Service, credit shall not be given for activities performed during the individual's regularly assigned work period.

(g) Active Service Standards. For the purpose of participating in the program, a year of active volunteer service is defined as a year in which an applicant for certification has accumulated a minimum of fifty (50) points in accordance with the following point system. Points will be credited for the period of July 1, through June 30, each year and shall not be transferable from one year to the next.

  (1) One (1) point shall be credited for each hour of attendance in a training course approved by the County Fire Commission providing that not more than twenty-five (25) points may be credited for all training courses attended per year.

  (2) One (1) point shall be credited for each company or county drill attended in its entirety, providing that not more than twenty-five (25) points may be credited for all drills attended per year.

  (3) One (1) point shall be credited for each official company, county, or Maryland State meeting pertaining to fire services or rescue service attended, provided that not more than twenty-five (25) points may be credited for all meetings attended per year.

  (4) One (1) point shall be credited for each call to which a volunteer responds, providing that not more than forty (40) points may be credited for all calls responded to per year.

  (5) One (1) point shall be credited for each full night of sleep-in. One (1) point shall be credited for each standby. A standby is defined as an on duty activity of the fire department or rescue squad, lasting for four (4) hours, not falling under one of the other categories, provided not more than twenty-five (25) points may be credited for all sleep-ins and standbys in one (1) year.

  (6) Two (2) points shall be credited for each month of active participation in and completion of an appointed or elected officership or chairmanship of a standing committee in any Fire or Rescue Service organization in the State of Maryland. Points shall be awarded according to the following schedule:

    | OFFICE | MAXIMUM ANNUAL POINTS | POINTS PER MONTH |
    | --- | --- | --- |
    | Chief, President | 50 | 4.17 |
    | Fire Commission | 50 | 4.17 |
    | All other elected or appointed, company, County or State association office | 25 | 2.09 |
    | Committee, Chairmanships | 25 | 2.09 |

  (7) One (1) point shall be credited for each hour of acceptable collateral duties such as, but not limited to, apparatus and building maintenance, and fire prevention, providing that not more than twenty-five (25) points may be credited for all collateral duties performed per year.

  (8) A volunteer member who, during his membership, serves or has served full-time military service in the armed forces of the United States shall receive credit at the rate of five (5) points for each month served providing that not more than fifty (50) points can be credited for any calendar year. A maximum of four (4) years of creditable service may be acquired in this manner.

(h) Cost of Living Increases.

  (1) Effective July 1, 1991, and thereafter, volunteers and spouses receiving benefits under this Act shall receive the cost of living increase awarded the career fire service of Prince George's County.