Title 8. Fire and Rescue Funds — Subtitle 2. Volunteer Company Assistance Fund

located in the State; or

located outside the State if the company:

The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.

Repayments on loans from the Fund shall be placed in the Fund and made available to fund grant or loan requests.

develop loan criteria;

develop loan terms, including interest rates; and

recommend to the Board of Public Works the approval or denial of loans.

equipment, including elevated equipment, pumpers, tankers, ladder trucks, ambulances, rescue vehicles, or other large equipment used for fire fighting and emergency services;

communications equipment;

protective equipment, including helmets, turnout coats and pants, boots, eyeshields, gloves, and self-contained respiratory protection units;

any other equipment necessary to carry out the ordinary functions of supporting fire fighting and rescue activities; or

facilities used to house fire fighting equipment, ambulances, and rescue vehicles.

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.

for a grant award:

the Association and the volunteer company have executed an agreement that:

be used to refinance a debt or other obligation of a volunteer company; or

be spent to replace or repair eligible items to the extent that insurance proceeds are available for those purposes.

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.

Each request for a grant or loan shall include:

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.

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.

The decision of the panel is final and is not subject to further review.

formulate, publish, and distribute the fire laws of Maryland and other state and federal standards, laws, guidelines, and recommendations;

formulate, publish, and distribute an annual report and monthly or other timely bulletins and reports;

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;

maintain and distribute records that relate to the annual inspections of fire and rescue equipment and facilities;

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;

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;

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;

provide professional services including accounting, auditing, and legal consultation and operational costs associated with the objectives established in this subsection; and

promote, disseminate, and advocate programs and services that pertain to improving the safety, health, and wellbeing of fire and rescue personnel throughout the State.

the number and total amount of grants and the number and total amount of loans made in the previous fiscal year;

for each grant or loan made:

for each volunteer company that received a grant or loan:

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

summary listings of grants and loans made during the previous fiscal year and outstanding loans, by county.

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

report the findings to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee on an annual basis.

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

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.