WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 641

request for financial assistance and any other supporting
information required by the Department.

(5)  The Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning
shall forward each request for financial assistance to the
Legislative Auditor for review. The Legislative Auditor, upon
review of the financial statements, may advise the Department of
Budget and Fiscal Planning if the request for financial
assistance appears justified.

(6)  The DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FISCAL PLANNING,
WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE Board of Public Works, [is authorized to
promulgate rules and] SHALL ADOPT regulations IN ACCORDANCE WITH
TITLE 10, SUBTITLE 1 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE necessary to
administer the Emergency Assistance Trust Fund program.

(7)  Upon warrant of the Comptroller, the State
Treasurer shall disburse trust funds to a volunteer fire company
or rescue squad for the purposes of this section as authorized by
the Board of Public Works.

(b)  The Board of Public Works may award either a grant or a
loan or a combination of both from the Emergency Assistance Trust
Fund after a favorable recommendation from the Department of
Budget and Fiscal Planning if:

(1)  An act of God or other unforeseen event has
substantially impaired the ability of a volunteer fire company or
rescue squad to provide adequate and safe service; or

(2)  The volunteer fire company or rescue squad is
unable to maintain the minimum level of performance for adequate
and safe service established by standards of the Maryland State
Firemen's Association because of a demonstrated lack of financial
resources; and

(3)  The Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning and
the volunteer fire company or rescue squad receiving assistance
have executed an agreement which provides that trust funds will
be used as represented in the request for approval to the Board
of Public Works and which grants to the State such security in
the equipment or facilities acquired with trust funds and in the
proceeds of that equipment or those facilities as is determined
by the Board to be appropriate and adequate.

(c)  A grant or loan awarded under this section shall be
used only for:

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

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