1608                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 118

WITHIN QUALIFIED MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN A COUNTY IN THE AGGREGATE
MAY NOT BE LESS THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE PROPORTION WHICH THE
EXPENDITURES OF QUALIFIED MUNICIPALITIES BEAR TO TOTAL AGGREGATE
EXPENDITURES FOR FIRE PROTECTION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THAT
COUNTY. IN DETERMINING NEED, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL
CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS, FAILURE TO MEET MINIMUM
STANDARDS, AS ESTABLISHED BY THE MARYLAND STATE FIREMEN'S
ASSOCIATION OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE EXISTENCE OR POTENTIAL
EXISTENCE OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THE AGE AND CONDITION OF
EXISTING FACILITIES, APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, LACK OF
AVAILABILITY OF MUTUAL AID, SERVICE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH
DEMOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS, AND IN THE CASE OF A VOLUNTEER COMPANY,
ITS INABILITY TO RAISE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE ITEM. FAILURE TO
MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS OR THE EXISTENCE OF AN EMERGENCY
SITUATION, AS DESCRIBED IN § 46A(B) OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE
GIVEN HIGHEST FUNDING PRIORITY BY THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY. A

COUNTY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING FUNDS TO

MUNICIPALITIES WITH EXPENDITURES FOR FIRE PROTECTION OF $25,000 OR
LESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(2) AS A CONDITION TO RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION, EACH COMPANY, DEPARTMENT, STATION, OR
COUNTY SHALL PARTICIPATE IN THE MARYLAND FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING
SYSTEM AND AMBULANCE INFORMATION SYSTEM, AS APPROPRIATE.

45D.

(A)  THE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE USED
AS AN ADDITION TO AND SHALL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR MONEYS
APPROPRIATED FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN THIS PROGRAM BY THE COUNTIES
OR MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE PURPOSES LISTED IN SECTION 45B(D)(l) OF
THIS SUBTITLE. EACH COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY SHALL EXPEND FOR
FIRE PROTECTION FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN PROVIDED UNDER THIS
SUBTITLE, IN FISCAL YEAR 1986 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, AN
AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF
FUNDS EXPENDED FOR FIRE PROTECTION DURING THE 3 PRECEDING FISCAL
YEARS. FAILURE TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION
SHALL PRECLUDE DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE TO THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.

(B)  EACH COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY MUST EXPEND FUNDS FOR FIRE
PROTECTION FROM ITS OWN SOURCES THAT ARE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE
AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDS TO BE RECEIVED. A LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY
RECEIVE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT INITIALLY ALLOCATED. IN DETERMINING
THE AMOUNT EXPENDED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, PRIOR TO
CERTIFICATION, THE SECRETARY SHALL REVIEW THE FINANCIAL
INFORMATION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE FIRST COMPLETED
FISCAL YEAR PRIOR TO THE FISCAL YEAR FOR WHICH STATE FUNDS ARE
APPROPRIATED. FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TRUST
FUND UNDER SECTION 46A OF THIS ARTICLE OR OTHER STATE FUNDS MAY
NOT BE USED AS MATCHING FUNDS.

(C)  FUNDS NOT DISTRIBUTED TO A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY
BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS
SECTION ARE NOT SATISFIED SHALL BE REVERTED TO THE GENERAL FUNDS
OF THIS STATE.