This section does not apply to nonemergency transportation or ambulance billing services performed by an ambulance service or by any other provider. A county or municipal corporation that bargains collectively with fire, emergency medical services, paramedic, and rescue personnel may not contract with a for-profit entity to provide the county’s or municipal corporation’s complete fire suppression or ambulance and rescue services without the enactment of an ordinance or other local law that authorizes the action. The requirement that a county or municipal corporation enact an ordinance or other local law under subsection (b) of this section may not be satisfied through the enactment of a local budget bill.

A person may not willfully interfere with or obstruct a firefighter, a rescue squad member, or emergency services personnel while the firefighter, rescue squad member, or emergency services personnel: is fighting a fire, performing emergency services, or proceeding to a fire or other emergency; or is dispatched on a call for emergency services. A person may not, with fraudulent design on person or property, falsely represent that the person is a member of a career or volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or emergency services unit of the State or a county or municipal corporation of the State. A person may not have, use, wear, or display without proper authority, for the purpose of deception, a uniform, shield, button, ornament, identification, or shoulder patch, or a simulation or imitation of these articles, adopted by a career or volunteer fire department, rescue squad, or emergency services unit. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years.

If no public water source is available to a fire company to supply water to extinguish a fire or mitigate an emergency incident, a fire company may enter private property to obtain water from a private water source, such as a privately owned pond, lake, river, stream, canal, cistern, or swimming pool, to extinguish the fire or otherwise mitigate the emergency incident.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Peer support program” means an evidence–based program provided by a fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entity or the International Association of Firefighters that provides evidence–based support from a peer support specialist to a member of a fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entity. “Peer support specialist” means a member of a fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entity or the International Association of Firefighters who: has received evidence–based training in peer support, including emotional and moral support to members of fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entities who have been involved in or exposed to an emotionally traumatic experience in the course of duty as a member of a fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entity; and is designated by the fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entity to provide the services described in item (i) of this paragraph. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a peer support specialist or peer support participant may not disclose the contents of any written or oral communication regarding a peer support interaction. Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply if: the communication contains: an explicit threat of suicide, the disclosure of which the peer support specialist believes is necessary to avoid a suicide attempt; an explicit threat of imminent and serious bodily harm or death to a clearly identified or identifiable individual; information relating to the abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, or abuse or neglect that is otherwise required to be reported by law; or the admission of criminal conduct; the disclosure is authorized by each peer support participant who was a party to the communication; or a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order or subpoena requiring the disclosure of the communication. Before the initial peer support interaction with a peer support participant, a peer support specialist shall inform the peer support participant in writing of the confidentiality provisions in this subsection. On or before October 1, 2024, the Behavioral Health Administration, in consultation with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, shall develop a report on best practices and professional standards for evidence–based peer support programs, including: guidelines for establishing and operating peer support programs; guidelines for training and certifying peer support specialists; a code of ethics for peer support specialists; recommendations for continuing education for peer support specialists; suggestions on disclosing confidentiality rights to any potential peer support participants; information on the different types of peer support programs used by fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entities; information regarding any differences in the types of peer support programs offered between each type of entity; and information on the role of senior members of fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entities in supporting access to mental health resources. Following the completion of the report required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Behavioral Health Administration shall make the following information publicly available on the Administration’s website: the published report; and a list of evidence–based peer support specialist training programs.