In Part I of this subtitle, “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Firefighters Association.
A member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer rescue squad is eligible for disability benefits from the Maryland State Firefighters Association if:
the member’s fire company or rescue squad recommends that the member receive benefits; and
the member is permanently or temporarily disabled:
as a direct result of actively participating in fighting a fire;
while going to or from a fire;
while performing other duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of the fire company;
while actively participating in the emergency medical services unit, or rescue work of a volunteer advanced life support unit or a volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue company located in the State; or
while providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting alone or at the direction of or with a fire, ambulance, or rescue company or advanced life support unit.
A benefit under this section shall be paid:
regardless of the district in which the beneficiary was disabled; or
regardless of whether the beneficiary was disabled in this State, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia.
The Board shall pay a benefit under this section from the treasury of the Maryland State Firefighters Association in the amount and in the manner that the Board determines until the beneficiary is no longer disabled.
The secretary of the Board shall add the name of each beneficiary under this section to the Disabled Firefighter’s and Rescue Squad Person’s List.
The Board shall pay death benefits under this section if a member of a volunteer fire company or member of a volunteer rescue squad dies:
as a direct result of actively participating in fighting a fire;
while going to or from a fire;
while performing other duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of the fire company;
while actively participating in the ambulance, advanced life support, or rescue work of a volunteer advanced life support unit or volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue company located in the State; or
while providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting alone or at the direction of or with a fire, ambulance, or rescue company or advanced life support unit.
A benefit under this subsection shall be paid:
regardless of the district in which the decedent died; or
regardless of whether the decedent died in this State, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia.
The Board shall pay a benefit under this section from the treasury of the Maryland State Firefighters Association in the amount that the Board determines, but not less than $2,000.
The Board shall pay a benefit under this subsection:
to the decedent’s surviving spouse or dependent child;
if no individual is eligible under item (i) of this paragraph, to the decedent’s surviving dependent parent;
if no individual is eligible under item (i) or (ii) of this paragraph, to each surviving child of the decedent in equal shares;
if no individual is eligible under item (i), (ii), or (iii) of this paragraph, to the decedent’s surviving parent; or
if no individual is eligible under item (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this paragraph, to each surviving sister, brother, or grandparent of the decedent in equal shares.
If there is a surviving spouse or dependent child:
until the surviving spouse remarries, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive a pension from the Maryland State Firefighters Association; and
until the dependent child becomes an adult, each dependent child is entitled to receive a pension from the Maryland State Firefighters Association.
The Board shall pay a benefit under this subsection from the treasury of the Maryland State Firefighters Association in the amount, at the times, and in the installments that the Board determines.
The secretary of the Board shall add the name of each beneficiary under this subsection to the Disabled Firefighter’s and Rescue Squad Person’s List.
The Governor shall include in the State budget each year at least $55,000:
for the purposes set forth in §§ 7-202 and 7-203 of this subtitle; and
for scholarships for children of members of volunteer fire companies or volunteer rescue squads who are killed or disabled in the line of duty, as provided in § 18-602 of the Education Article.
The Board:
shall administer the money provided under subsection (a) of this section; and
may not use it for administrative costs.
A member of a volunteer fire company or rescue squad who is engaged in a fire fighting or rescue activity with an organized fire or rescue company is considered to be on duty during the activity for the purposes of the Federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act of 1976.
In Calvert County, the fire and rescue commission shall administer a length of service award program for members of volunteer fire companies and rescue squads, as provided in Title 14 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Calvert County.
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
“Board” means the Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County.
“Program” means the Volunteer Length of Service Award Program.
In Cecil County, the Board may establish and fund a Volunteer Length of Service Award Program for qualified members of volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance corps.
The Board may adopt bylaws for the Program by resolution.
In the bylaws, the Board may:
define terms;
establish eligibility requirements for certification procedures based on length of service, number of hours of service, amount of training, number of hours of training, prior service, or any other criteria considered relevant by the Board based on requirements and procedures recommended by the Cecil County Firemen’s Association;
establish appeals procedures for members who contest eligibility requirement determinations by the Board;
establish a benefits schedule and determine eligibility requirements, including age and length of service requirements;
delegate record–keeping responsibilities of the Program to the Program administrative committee of the Cecil County Firemen’s Association;
delegate administration of the Program to the Cecil County treasurer, a committee or board, an insurer, a financial institution, or any other agency, group, or organization that the Board determines is competent to administer the Program;
subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, establish disability, death, and survivor benefits for qualified individuals;
establish any other requirements, criteria, or benefits considered by the Board to be in the best interest of Cecil County and the best interest of the volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance corps;
subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, allocate from the general revenue of Cecil County or from any other source, funds for the Program; and
establish any other provision for the administration of the Program.
A surviving spouse benefit is discontinued when the survivor remarries.
Funds for the Program allocated from the general revenue of Cecil County may not exceed:
$35,000 during the first year of the Program;
$39,000 during the second year of the Program;
$44,000 during the third year of the Program;
$49,000 during the fourth year of the Program;
$55,000 during the fifth year of the Program; and
an additional $10,000 for each additional year of the Program or whatever amount would make the Program actuarially sound by July 1, 2014.
To carry out this section, the Board shall adopt the following provisions as part of the Program:
a member who has certified credit volunteer service on or after January 1, 1979 or who discontinued active volunteer service before January 1, 1979 may receive credit for this service after being certified in accordance with this section to have performed 5 years of active volunteer service after January 1, 1979;
a member who has completed 25 years of certified volunteer service and is under the age of 60 years may be qualified and will be eligible for benefits when the member reaches the age of 60 years if the member is certified to the 25 years of qualified service before January 1, 1984;
after January 1, 1984, and on or before June 30, 2008, a member who accumulates the proper number of points needed to qualify and certify for 25 years of service and who fails to remain active or maintain membership in a volunteer fire company is not disqualified or otherwise restricted from receiving benefits at the age of 60 years; and
on or after July 1, 2008, a member who accumulates the proper number of points needed to qualify and certify for 25 years of service may receive benefits at the age of 55 years.
In Charles County, the County Commissioners shall administer the length of service award program for members of volunteer fire companies, rescue squads, and mobile intensive care units, as provided in §§ 54-8 through 54-11 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Charles County.
To encourage volunteer service in Frederick County, the governing body of Frederick County may enact a monetary service award plan based on length of service for members of volunteer fire companies in Frederick County.
The governing body of Frederick County may implement the plan by enacting an ordinance that relates to the provisions and implementation of the plan.
The Board of County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may:
establish a length of service award program for qualified members of volunteer fire departments and rescue squads; and
adopt bylaws for the program by resolution.
By resolution or ordinance, the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County may establish and fund a volunteer service award program for qualified members of volunteer fire departments, ambulance companies, and rescue squads.
By resolution or ordinance, the Washington County Commissioners may establish and fund a volunteer length of service award program for qualified members of volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance corps.