<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-101" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>“Administrative costs” means any costs that are for administrative functions, including:</text> <level label="i"> <text>billing and collection expenses;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>promotion and marketing expenses;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>taxes, fees, and assessments;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>legal expenses; and</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>other general and administrative costs as determined by the Secretary.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Administrative costs” does not include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>accounting and financial reporting expenses, including the costs of auditing the Fund in accordance with § 8–104 of this subtitle; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>computer software, if used exclusively for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Bank account” means a checking or savings account that is maintained in a financial institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Capital equipment” means any equipment item or furnishing that has:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a useful life greater than 1 year; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a procurement cost of at least $10,000 per unit.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Capital expenditure” means revenues appropriated for:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the acquisition of land, buildings, or capital equipment; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>new construction.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>“Computer software” means any program that is used to cause a computer to perform a specific task or set of tasks.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Computer software” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>system and application programs; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>database storage and management programs.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>“Encumber” means to create a legal obligation that requires a portion of an appropriation to be reserved to pay money in the future.</text> </level> <level label="h"> <level label="1"> <text>“Expenditures for fire protection” means:</text> <level label="i"> <text>revenues appropriated or to be appropriated by a county for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the proceeds of any county bonds used to finance facilities that house equipment for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Expenditures for fire protection” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>revenues appropriated by a county to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>accounting and financial reporting expenses, including the costs of auditing the Fund in accordance with § 8–104 of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the costs of training personnel.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Expenditures for fire protection” does not include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>salaries, workers’ compensation, fringe benefits, or other personnel costs;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>administrative costs;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>capital expenditures; or</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>in Carroll County, appropriations for loans to a volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance company, secured by mortgages, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness of the volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance company, if the appropriations derive from the proceeds of bonds used to finance facilities that house equipment for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="i"> <text>“Fund” means the Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund.</text> </level> <level label="j"> <text>“Legal obligation” includes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a purchase order;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a written agreement for the purchase of goods and services;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a written agreement between a county and a volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance company; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>a written agreement between a county and a vendor.</text> </level> </level> <level label="k"> <level label="1"> <text>“Qualified municipal corporation” means a municipal corporation in the State whose expenditures for fire protection from municipal sources exceed $25,000.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Qualified municipal corporation” does not include Baltimore City.</text> </level> </level> <level label="l"> <text>“Rehabilitate”, with regard to a facility, does not include purchasing office equipment or incurring administrative expenses.</text> </level> <level label="m"> <text>“Routine maintenance costs” means expenditures for activities that are:</text> <level label="1"> <text>normally established by a manufacturer or an industry trade association;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>planned and performed at regular intervals; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>necessary to extend the useful life or to prevent the premature failure of building components or equipment.</text> </level> </level> <level label="n"> <text>“Secretary” means the Secretary of Emergency Management.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-102" future_version_removed="true" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The purposes of the Fund are to promote:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the delivery of effective and high quality fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services in the State;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>increased financial support for fire, rescue, and ambulance companies by counties; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the continued financial viability of volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies given the greatly increased costs of equipment.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary shall administer the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Secretary may adopt procedures to carry out this subtitle, including additional auditing and reporting requirements.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The Secretary may not impose training or operational requirements as a precondition to receipt of money, except as otherwise expressly provided in this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Fund consists of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>revenue distributed to the Fund under § 16–609 of the Business Regulation Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>As authorized by the Secretary, the Treasurer shall make payments out of the Fund to each county on warrant of the Comptroller.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Treasurer shall make the payments required under this subsection to the appropriate county on or about November 15.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>State money provided under this section may only be used to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>acquire or rehabilitate fire or rescue equipment, including ambulances;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>acquire or rehabilitate capital equipment used in connection with fire or rescue equipment;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>rehabilitate facilities used primarily to house fire fighting equipment, ambulances, and rescue vehicles;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>install life safety and fire protection systems at a fire, rescue, or ambulance facility;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>acquire land for the purpose of rehabilitation or construction of a fire, rescue, or ambulance facility;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>acquire wireless telecommunications devices, computers, and related computer equipment if used exclusively for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services; and</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>acquire machinery and equipment if used exclusively for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance services.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>State money provided under this section may not be used:</text> <level label="i"> <text>for administrative costs;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>for compensation or fringe benefits to employees or members of county governments, or fire, rescue, or ambulance companies;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>for travel or meal expenses;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>for fuel, utility, or routine maintenance costs of facilities or equipment;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>to acquire new or replacement fire hydrants or water mains;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>for insurance;</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>for fund–raising activities;</text> </level> <level label="viii"> <text>to replace or repair eligible items to the extent that insurance proceeds are available;</text> </level> <level label="ix"> <text>for costs associated with the “9–1–1” emergency telephone system; or</text> </level> <level label="x"> <text>for land or interests in land, except as provided in paragraph (1)(v) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Governor shall include an annual appropriation to the Fund of at least $16,500,000.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-103" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to subsection (c) of this section, each county shall receive an initial allocation of money based on a percentage to be determined in the following manner:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Director of Assessments and Taxation shall certify to the Secretary each county’s total percentage of land use property tax accounts, including vacant unimproved properties, relative to the statewide total of all land use property tax accounts for the first completed fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which money is to be allocated;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>except as provided in item (3) of this subsection, the percentage determined in item (1) of this subsection shall then be applied for each county to any amount included in the State budget for the purposes of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>each county shall receive an allocation of at least 2% of the total Fund as appropriated in the State budget, in addition to the amount that is distributed to fire, rescue, and ambulance companies, departments, or stations located in qualified municipal corporations in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>In accordance with the formula provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each county shall distribute a minimum percentage of funds that the county receives from the Fund to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The percentage of funds required to be distributed by each county under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be equal to the same total percentage of funds distributed by each county to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies from the Fund in fiscal year 2011 or at least 51% of the allocation received by each county under subsection (a) of this section, whichever is greater.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Each county shall distribute the money provided under this subsection on the basis of need, as determined by the county, to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>In determining need under this subsection, the county shall consider:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the failure to meet minimum standards established by the county or the Maryland State Firefighters Association;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the existence or potential existence of an emergency situation as described in § 8–203 of this title;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the age and condition of existing facilities and equipment;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the lack of availability of mutual aid;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>any service problems associated with demographic conditions;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>a company’s inability to raise money to pay for an item; and</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>any other relevant factors.</text> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>This subsection does not apply to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Baltimore City; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>distributions made to fire, rescue, and ambulance companies, departments, or stations located in qualified municipal corporations in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraph (6) of this subsection, each county shall distribute the money provided under this subtitle on the basis of need to fire, rescue, and ambulance companies, departments, or stations in the county, including companies, departments, or stations:</text> <level label="i"> <text>located in municipal corporations; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>located outside the State if the company, department, or station:</text> <level label="1"> <text>has been a member of the Maryland State Firefighters Association for at least the past 10 years; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>has a first due response area in the State.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each county shall determine need in accordance with procedures that the county uses to adopt its budget.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>In determining need under this subsection, the county shall consider:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the failure to meet minimum standards established by the county or the Maryland State Firefighters Association;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the existence or potential existence of an emergency situation as described in § 8–203 of this title;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the age and condition of existing facilities and equipment;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the lack of availability of mutual aid;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>any service problems associated with demographic conditions; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>any other relevant factors.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>In addition to consideration of the factors in paragraph (3) of this subsection, for a volunteer company the county shall consider the company’s inability to raise money to pay for the item.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, each county shall give the highest funding priority to the failure to meet minimum standards or the existence of an emergency situation as described in § 8–203 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <level label="i"> <text>In this paragraph, “expenditures of the qualified municipal corporation” includes revenues appropriated to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Distribution of money to fire, rescue, and ambulance companies, departments, or stations located in qualified municipal corporations in a county in the aggregate may not be less than 50% of the proportion that the expenditures of the qualified municipal corporation bear to total aggregate expenditures for fire protection in that county.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>A county shall distribute the money allocated under this paragraph to fire, rescue, and ambulance companies, departments, or stations located in qualified municipalities.</text> </level> </level> <level label="7"> <level label="i"> <text>To receive money under this subsection, each county shall participate in the Maryland Fire Incident Reporting System and Ambulance Information System.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A county shall be deemed in compliance with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph if the county has participated in the Maryland Fire Incident Reporting System and Ambulance Information System during the immediately preceding fiscal year for which money is to be allocated.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>The State Fire Marshal shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>adopt policies and procedures for determining if a county has participated in the Maryland Fire Incident Reporting System; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>certify to the Secretary by July 1 of each year whether a county has participated in the Maryland Fire Incident Reporting System during the immediately preceding fiscal year.</text> </level> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>The Executive Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>adopt policies and procedures for determining if a county has participated in the Ambulance Information System; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>certify to the Secretary by July 1 of each year whether a county has participated in the Ambulance Information System during the immediately preceding fiscal year.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-104" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>The money distributed under this subtitle shall be used by each county for the purposes listed in § 8–102(f)(1) of this subtitle as an addition to and may not be substituted for any money appropriated from sources other than the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>In each fiscal year, each county shall make expenditures for fire protection from sources other than the Fund in an amount that is at least equal to the average amount of the expenditures for fire protection during the 3 preceding fiscal years.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>If a county does not comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary may withhold money allocated to the county for the fiscal year that begins after the submission of the report required under § 8–105 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The penalty imposed under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be equal to the percentage by which the county failed to meet the county’s maintenance of effort under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>The Secretary shall automatically withhold money allocated to a county from the Fund if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the county fails to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection for two consecutive fiscal years; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>no waiver has been granted by the Board of Public Works or the General Assembly in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The penalty imposed under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be equal to the percentage by which the county failed to meet the county’s maintenance of effort for the second consecutive fiscal year under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Each county shall make expenditures for fire protection from its own sources that are at least equal to the amount of State money to be received.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A county may receive less than the amount initially allocated.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>In determining the amount of expenditures for fire protection made by a county, before certification, the Secretary shall review the financial information of the county for the first completed fiscal year before the fiscal year for which State money is appropriated.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Money received from the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund under § 8–203 of this title or other State money may not be used as the match required under this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Money not distributed to a county because the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section are not satisfied shall be distributed to the counties that meet the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section in accordance with this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, each county that meets the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall receive an allocation of the money distributed under paragraph (1) of this subsection based on a percentage to be determined in accordance with § 8–103(a) of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>For purposes of determining the percentage allocated to each county under this subsection, the property tax accounts of each county that fails to satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be excluded from the statewide total.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Each county shall distribute money provided under this subsection in accordance with § 8–103(c) of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The maintenance of effort requirement in subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section does not apply to a county if the county requests and is granted a waiver from the requirement based on a determination that the county’s fiscal condition significantly impedes the county’s ability to fund the maintenance of effort requirement.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>In order to qualify for a waiver for a fiscal year, a county shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>seek a waiver from the General Assembly by legislation during the legislative session preceding the fiscal year in which the penalty for failing to comply with the maintenance of effort requirement is to be imposed; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>make a request for a waiver to the Board of Public Works by June 30 of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which the penalty for failing to comply with the maintenance of effort requirement is to be imposed.</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Secretary shall provide a preliminary assessment of a waiver request to the Board of Public Works.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>When considering whether to grant a county’s waiver request, the Board of Public Works shall consider the following factors:</text> <level label="i"> <text>external environmental factors such as a loss of a major employer or industry affecting the county or a broad economic downturn affecting more than one county;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the county’s tax base;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the county’s maintenance of effort requirement relative to the county’s statutory ability to raise revenues;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the county’s history of exceeding the required maintenance of effort amount under subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>significant reductions in State aid to the county and municipalities of the county for the fiscal year for which a waiver is requested or new costs imposed on the county or municipalities of the county due to a change in State law, regulation, or policy; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>the number of waivers the county has received in the past 5 years.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The Board of Public Works shall inform the county whether the waiver for a fiscal year is approved or denied in whole or part no later than 60 days after receipt of an application or August 30 of the fiscal year in which the waiver is requested, whichever is later.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>If a county is granted a waiver from the maintenance of effort provision in subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section by either the Board of Public Works or the General Assembly for any fiscal year, the maintenance of effort calculation for the next fiscal year shall be calculated based on the three most recent fiscal years in which the county met the maintenance of effort requirement.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <level label="i"> <text>If a county is granted a waiver from the maintenance of effort calculation in subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section by either the Board of Public Works or the General Assembly for 5 consecutive fiscal years, the county may request a waiver from the Board of Public Works to rebase the maintenance of effort calculation.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Board of Public Works shall establish policies and procedures for:</text> <level label="1"> <text>requesting a waiver to rebase the maintenance of effort calculation; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>determining whether to grant a waiver to rebase the maintenance of effort calculation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>If a waiver to rebase the maintenance of effort calculation under this paragraph is granted, the maintenance of effort calculation shall be rebased to the average amount of expenditures for fire protection from sources other than the Fund during the 3 preceding fiscal years.</text> </level> </level> <level label="7"> <text>A waiver granted by either the Board of Public Works or the General Assembly may not relieve a county of the requirement under subsection (b)(1) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The money distributed under this subtitle and allocated to a county shall be:</text> <level label="i"> <text>audited in accordance with the procedures for accounting and auditing of other governmental revenues; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>accounted for in a format developed by the Secretary.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Money not expended by the county by the end of a fiscal year shall be placed in a special fund for expenditure in the next succeeding fiscal year.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <level label="i"> <text>Money distributed under this subtitle that remains unencumbered or unexpended by the county after the second fiscal year shall be repaid to the Secretary for deposit in the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The Comptroller may set off any shared revenues due to a county instead of repayment under this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>A volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance company may not enter into a legal obligation to encumber money received under this subtitle with a duration of more than 2 years without prior approval from the county.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <level label="i"> <text>If a written agreement between a county and a volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance company to encumber money becomes null and void, the money shall be placed in a special fund for expenditure by the county in the next succeeding fiscal year.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Money distributed under this paragraph that remains unencumbered or unexpended by the county after the second fiscal year shall be repaid to the Secretary for deposit in the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>The Comptroller may set off any shared revenues due to a county instead of repayment under this paragraph.</text> </level> </level> <level label="6"> <text>If a volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance company creates a legal obligation to encumber money received from the Fund, the Secretary shall consider the legal obligation to be an encumbrance of the county for purposes of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="7"> <level label="i"> <text>Money distributed under this subtitle to be expended by a volunteer or municipal fire, rescue, or ambulance company shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>maintained in a separate bank account; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, audited in the same manner as other money of the volunteer or municipal company is audited.</text> </level> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Money distributed under this subtitle to a volunteer or municipal fire, rescue, or ambulance company may be accounted for in a format developed by the Secretary.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Copies of the audit of the separate bank account shall be submitted to the respective county government and to the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.</text> </level> </level> <level label="8"> <level label="i"> <text>A county or municipality may hold money distributed under this subtitle to a fire, rescue, or ambulance company in the county or municipality’s bank account.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Money held by a county or municipality under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph may be maintained in a bank account with other county or municipal funds.</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Money held by a county or municipality under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>audited in accordance with the procedures for accounting and auditing of other governmental revenues; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>accounted for in a format developed by the Secretary.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-105" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>On or before December 31 of each year, each county shall submit to the Secretary a report for the preceding fiscal year in the format provided by the Secretary.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The report required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the amount of money distributed to each recipient and the purpose of expenditure of this money categorized as provided in § 8–102(f)(1) of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the amount and disposition of any unencumbered or unexpended money;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the amount of expenditures for fire protection by the county, including the amount of money distributed to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies from sources other than the Fund; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the nature and estimated dollar amount of any in–kind contributions made by the county to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Each year the Secretary shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the information provided by the counties on the distribution of money provided under this subtitle, including an assessment of the extent to which the purposes of this subtitle are being achieved.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The report under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall state the amount of money distributed by each county under § 8–103(b) of this subtitle to volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance companies.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-106" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, a county may withhold money allocated for the next fiscal year from a fire, rescue, or ambulance company that does not comply with the provisions of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The failure of a fire, rescue, or ambulance company to comply with this subtitle may result in the forfeiture of the allocated money, in whole or in part.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Money forfeited by a fire, rescue, or ambulance company under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be reallocated by the county to compliant fire, rescue, and ambulance companies.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Secretary may withhold money allocated for the next fiscal year under this subtitle from a county if the county does not comply with this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>After notice and an opportunity for a hearing, failure of a county to comply with this subtitle may result in the forfeiture of the allocated money, in whole or in part.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Money withheld under this section reverts to the Fund.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-201" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Volunteer Company Assistance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Association” means the Maryland State Firefighters Association.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Department” means the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Fund” means the Volunteer Company Assistance Fund.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Volunteer company” means a volunteer ambulance, fire, or rescue company:</text> <level label="1"> <text>located in the State; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>located outside the State if the company:</text> <level label="i"> <text>has been a member of the Association for at least the past 10 years; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>has a first due response area in the State.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-202" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Volunteer Company Assistance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>There is a Volunteer Company Assistance Fund.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>After consultation with the Association, the Governor may include in the State budget each year an appropriation to the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Repayments on loans from the Fund shall be placed in the Fund and made available to fund grant or loan requests.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>For the purpose of making loans under this subtitle, the Association shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>develop loan criteria;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>develop loan terms, including interest rates; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>recommend to the Board of Public Works the approval or denial of loans.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-203" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Volunteer Company Assistance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>The purpose of the Fund is to ensure adequate fire protection and rescue services in the State.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A grant or loan awarded under this section shall be used only for purchasing, replacing, or improving:</text> <level label="1"> <text>equipment, including elevated equipment, pumpers, tankers, ladder trucks, ambulances, rescue vehicles, or other large equipment used for fire fighting and emergency services;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>communications equipment;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>protective equipment, including helmets, turnout coats and pants, boots, eyeshields, gloves, and self-contained respiratory protection units;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>any other equipment necessary to carry out the ordinary functions of supporting fire fighting and rescue activities; or</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>facilities used to house fire fighting equipment, ambulances, and rescue vehicles.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>A volunteer company receiving a grant from the Fund shall provide at least a 30% match of the amount of the grant.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If a volunteer company cannot reasonably provide the required match before the grant is disbursed, the Board of Public Works may waive the requirement or may allow repayment of the match within a reasonable time not exceeding 18 months after the purchase, replacement, or improvement of the equipment or facilities.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>Money to provide the required match may include contributions from local government.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A local government may not reduce the amount of money that the volunteer company would otherwise be entitled to receive from the local government because of State money provided under this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Loans from the Fund may only be awarded to assist with up to 75% of the total cost of the equipment or facilities being purchased.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>After a favorable recommendation from the Association, the Board of Public Works may award a grant, loan, or both from the Fund to a volunteer company if:</text> <level label="1"> <text>for a grant award:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an act of God or other unforeseen event substantially impairs the ability of the volunteer company to provide adequate and safe service; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the volunteer company is unable to maintain the minimum level of performance for adequate and safe service established by standards of the Association because of a demonstrated lack of financial resources; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the Association and the volunteer company have executed an agreement that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>provides that the grant or loan will be used as represented to the Board of Public Works in the request for approval; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>gives to the State security in the equipment or facilities purchased with the loan and in the proceeds of that equipment or those facilities as determined by the Board of Public Works to be appropriate and adequate.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>A grant or loan awarded under this section may not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>be used to refinance a debt or other obligation of a volunteer company; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>be spent to replace or repair eligible items to the extent that insurance proceeds are available for those purposes.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The Board of Public Works may not approve a grant or loan from the Fund to a volunteer company if the volunteer company has not made a good faith effort to obtain money from its local government.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-204" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Volunteer Company Assistance Fund"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A volunteer company shall submit each request for a grant or loan from the Fund to the Association for approval by a board of review in accordance with the Association’s bylaws.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each request for a grant or loan shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>financial statements for the 2 fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the request is made;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any available audit of the financial statements; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>a detailed explanation of the reasons for the request.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>For each request for a grant or loan from the Fund, the volunteer company shall certify that the volunteer company applied for money from its local government and was denied, either wholly or partly.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>If the Association disapproves a request or does not take action within 90 days after the request for any reason other than because funds are not available, the volunteer company requesting a grant or loan may appeal to a panel composed of the president of the Association, the State Fire Marshal, and the chairman of the Fire and Rescue Education and Training Commission.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The decision of the panel is final and is not subject to further review.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>On approval of a request for a grant or loan, the Association or the panel shall transmit its recommendation to the Board of Public Works.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>As authorized by the Board of Public Works, the Treasurer shall disburse money from the Fund to the Association in the name of a volunteer company for the purposes of this subtitle on warrant of the Comptroller.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Baltimore City Fire Department may submit a request for a grant or loan from the Fund for the purposes set forth in § 8-203(b) of this subtitle.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-205" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Volunteer Company Assistance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>After consultation with the Association, the Governor may include in the State budget each year an amount for the purposes set forth in subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Association may use money appropriated under subsection (a) of this section to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>formulate, publish, and distribute the fire laws of Maryland and other state and federal standards, laws, guidelines, and recommendations;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>formulate, publish, and distribute an annual report and monthly or other timely bulletins and reports;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>purchase, publish, and distribute fire prevention, emergency services, and safety education materials and sponsor seminars and other public forums to disseminate this information to Association members and residents of the State;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>maintain and distribute records that relate to the annual inspections of fire and rescue equipment and facilities;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>establish and maintain a database on manpower availability and training, operational cost, equipment availability, response time, State and local financial support, and other relevant factors in providing fire and rescue services;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>maintain membership through fees, subscriptions, and meeting attendance in organizations that disseminate training and education and provide guidance to volunteer emergency service organizations and their members and represent their interests on a State and national level;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>provide fuel, insurance, and maintenance to vehicles owned and operated by the Association and used in representing the volunteers and disseminating information throughout the State;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>provide professional services including accounting, auditing, and legal consultation and operational costs associated with the objectives established in this subsection; and</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>promote, disseminate, and advocate programs and services that pertain to improving the safety, health, and wellbeing of fire and rescue personnel throughout the State.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-206" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Volunteer Company Assistance Fund"> <level label="a"> <text>On or before August 30 of each fiscal year, the Association shall submit to the Department, the Legislative Auditor, and to the Board of Public Works an annual report that includes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the number and total amount of grants and the number and total amount of loans made in the previous fiscal year;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>for each grant or loan made:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the volunteer company that received the grant or loan;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the amount of the grant or loan; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the specific purpose of making the grant or loan;</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>for each volunteer company that received a grant or loan:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the financial statement of the volunteer company for the previous fiscal year or the year in which the grant or loan was received, whichever is available; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>documentation of the volunteer company’s actual expenditures from the grant or loan;</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>for each loan made, the terms of the loan, including origination date, loan term, payment terms, payment amount, payments made to date, outstanding balance, and loan status; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>summary listings of grants and loans made during the previous fiscal year and outstanding loans, by county.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Department shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>review the documentation submitted in accordance with subsection (a) of this section on an annual basis to determine if each grant or loan was spent in accordance with this subtitle and the request approved by the Board of Public Works; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>report the findings to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee on an annual basis.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Legislative Auditor may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>review the documentation submitted in accordance with subsection (a) of this section to determine if each grant or loan was spent in accordance with this subtitle and the requests approved by the Board of Public Works; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>report the findings to the Department and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee of the General Assembly.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Comptroller may audit the financial affairs of the Association to ensure compliance with this subtitle.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-301" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="County Money and Loans for Volunteer Fire Companies"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Cecil County, Howard County, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, and Worcester County.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The county commissioners of each county have the express power to contribute money to a volunteer fire company in the county.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-302" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="County Money and Loans for Volunteer Fire Companies"> <level label="a"> <text>This section applies only to Dorchester County.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the County Commissioners of Dorchester County shall pay at least the sum of $118,500 each year to the volunteer fire companies in the county for their benefit as long as the volunteer fire companies are active, fire–fighting organizations.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each volunteer fire company shall use the money received to support, maintain, equip, and operate the volunteer fire company for the purpose of fighting fires in the county.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Each volunteer fire company shall comply with the bylaws of the Volunteer Fire Companies Association of Dorchester County.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The County Commissioners may not make a payment to a volunteer fire company unless the volunteer fire company complies with the bylaws of the Volunteer Fire Companies Association of Dorchester County.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The County Commissioners shall use property tax revenue to pay volunteer fire companies in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The County Commissioners shall distribute the money required by subsection (b) of this section on October 1 of each year to the following volunteer fire companies in at least the following amounts:</text> <text>Cambridge $10,500</text> <text>Hurlock 9,500</text> <text>Secretary 9,000</text> <text>Vienna 9,000</text> <text>East New Market 8,000</text> <text>Eldorado 7,500</text> <text>Neck 7,500</text> <text>Lloyds 7,500</text> <text>Lakes & Straits 8,500</text> <text>Church Creek 8,500</text> <text>Madison 8,500</text> <text>Hoopers Island 8,500</text> <text>Linkwood–Salem 7,500</text> <text>Taylors Island 8,500</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Elliots Volunteer Fire Company shall receive an amount set by the County Commissioners.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>Before paying money to a volunteer fire company, the County Commissioners may require the officers of the volunteer fire company to appear before the County Commissioners and submit evidence satisfactory to the County Commissioners that the volunteer fire company:</text> <level label="i"> <text>is an active fire–fighting organization; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>has spent the money received in prior years under this section in accordance with this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If a volunteer fire company ceases to be an active fire–fighting organization or fails to spend the money received in accordance with this section, the County Commissioners shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>withhold the current year’s money from the volunteer fire company; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>allocate the unspent money to the contingent fund of Dorchester County.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="8-303" title_number="8" title_name="Fire and Rescue Funds" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="County Money and Loans for Volunteer Fire Companies"> <level label="a"> <text>This section applies to Allegany County, Calvert County, Charles County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Kent County, and St. Mary’s County.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The county commissioners of a county subject to this section have the express power to guarantee or insure financial loans made by a governmental third party to a volunteer fire company that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>is located within the county; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>has a mutual aid agreement with the county.</text> </level> </level> </section>