1610                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 118

(a) (3) (i) A volunteer fire company or rescue squad shall
submit all requests for financial assistance under this section
to the Maryland State Firemen's Association for approval by a
board of review in accordance with the Association's bylaws.

(ii) All requests for financial assistance
shall include financial statements for the 2 fiscal years
immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the application is
made. Each request shall also include the audit of the financial
statements if an audit was conducted. THE VOLUNTEER COMPANY
SHALL CERTIFY THAT IT HAS APPLIED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM
ITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR GOVERNMENTS AND BEEN DENIED, EITHER IN
PART OR IN FULL, FUNDING FOR ITS REQUEST.

(iii) If the Maryland State Firemen's
Association disapproves a request or does not take action within
45 days of the request, then the volunteer fire company or rescue
squad requesting assistance may appeal to a panel comprised of
the president of the Maryland State Firemen's Association, the
State Fire Marshal, and the chairman of the Fire and Rescue
Education and Training Commission. The decision of the appeals
panel shall be final and not subject to further review.

(d) (4) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE TRUST FUND MAY NOT BE
APPROVED IF A VOLUNTEER COMPANY HAS NOT MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT
TO OBTAIN FUNDS FROM ITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before
January 1, 1988, subject to § 2-1312 of the State Government
Article, the Department, the Maryland State Fire Association, and
the counties shall report to the appropriate standing committees
of the General Assembly on the programs funded under this Act.

SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1985.

Approved May 21, 1985.

CHAPTER 119

(House Bill 1327)

AN ACT concerning

Economic Development - International Trade

FOR the purpose of improving economic development efforts in the
area of international trade by establishing a State Trade
Policy Council to provide advice to the Governor and General
Assembly on Maryland's role in international trade and
creating an Office of International Trade within the