3000                                    JOINT RESOLUTIONS

No. 17

(Senate Joint Resolution 7)
A Senate Joint Resolution concerning

Fire Service Extension of University of Maryland

FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor to appoint a
Commission [[of]] on Fire Services to determine the
future role of the Fire Service Extension of the
University of Maryland in the training of firemen
and rescue squad members, to provide for the members
of the Commission, and to require a report of the
Commission's conclusions and recommendations.

WHEREAS, The Fire Service Extension at the
University of Maryland has historically provided training
for the majority of firemen in the State, and has
provided much of the training of rescue squad members.

Formerly, fire services in the State were largely
provided by volunteer members, whereas at the present
these services are provided in some areas by volunteers,
in others in part by paid firemen and in part by
volunteers, and in others solely by paid firemen.

While the Fire Service Extension has continued to
provide excellent training for volunteers, technological
developments in building construction and urbanization of
the population require the Extension to provide a lore
elaborate form of training.

The training of paid firemen has been performed by
the local governments in several jurisdictions through
training facilities of the county government.

The Fire Service Extension has prepared a ten year
plan of regional centers for an expanded program of
training, and has proposed an expansion of the facilities
of the Extension at College Park.

The demands on the University of Maryland budget may
not permit an increase in the funds allocated to the
Extension sufficient to provide for implementation either
of the ten year regional center plan or the proposed
expansion of the Extension's facilities.

There is a need to determine how the     paid fire

services in the State fit into the overall   program of

training so that all fire services in the     State can
benefit from State funding.

As stated in the Report of the Senate Finance
Committee in 1973 to the Legislative Council, there is a