PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 424

Approved May 14, 1996.

CHAPTER 424
(Senate Bill 804)

AN ACT concerning

Howard and Prince George's Counties - Fire Protection - Funding —Local Expenditure

FOR the purpose of altering imposing a certain penalty for certain counties regarding certain
local fire protection funding requirements for certain fiscal years; providing for the
retroactive effect of this Act; making this Act an emergency measure; and generally
relating to State and local funding for fire protection.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 38A - Fires and Investigations
Section 45D(a) and (b)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1993 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 38A - Fires and Investigations

45D.

(a) (1) 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 for the purposes listed in § 45B(d)(1) of this subtitle. Each
county 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.

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, IN EACH
OF FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997 1995 AND 1996. EACH COUNTY IS ONLY REQUIRED TO
EXPEND FOR FIRE PROTECTION FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN PROVIDED UNDER
THIS SUBTITLE, AN AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO 90 PERCENT OF
THE AVERAGE OF FUNDS EXPENDED FOR FIRE PROTECTION DURING THE THREE
PRECEDING FISCAL YEARS IN HOWARD COUNTY AND PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY ONLY,
THE COUNTY MAY RECEIVE DISBURSEMENTS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SUBJECT TO A
PENALTY IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE PERCENTAGE BY WHICH THE COUNTY FAILS TO
MEET THE COUNTY'S MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT FOR FISCAL YEARS 1995 AND 1996.

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