WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 476

(b) (1) Each county shall distribute the funds provided
under this subtitle to those fire, rescue, and ambulance
companies, departments, or stations within its jurisdiction,
including companies, departments, or stations located within
municipal corporations, on the basis of need as determined by the
local government pursuant to procedures used by the local
government in the adoption of its budget. However, distribution
to companies, departments, or stations located 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.

(2) As a condition to receiving financial assistance
under this subsection, each county shall participate in the
Maryland Fire Incident Reporting System and Ambulance Information
System, as appropriate.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1987.

Approved May 14, 1987.

CHAPTER 476

(House Bill 541)

AN ACT concerning

Oysters - Catch Limits at Certain Times by
Tonging, Patent Tonging, or Diving

FOR the purpose of establishing certain catch limits for oysters
caught by tongs, patent tongs, or diving at certain times;
allowing the Department of Natural Resources to extend for a
certain time the catch limits for oysters caught by tongs,
patent tongs, or diving under this Act; and generally

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