Ch. 425

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(b) (1) Each county 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, 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 § 46A of this article or other State funds may not be used as matching funds.

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, IN
FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997, EACH COUNTY IS ONLY REQUIRED TO EXPEND FUNDS
FOR FIRE PROTECTION FROM ITS OWN SOURCES THAT ARE AT LEAST EQUAL TO 90
PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDS TO BE RECEIVED.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be applied
retroactively to July 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall remain
effective until the end of June 30, 1997 and, at the end of June 30, 1997 with no further
action required by the General Assembly, this Act shall be abrogated and of no further
force and effect.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of all the members elected to
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted.

Approved May 14, 1996.

CHAPTER 425
(House Bill 10)

AN ACT concerning

Health Insurance - Expense and Loss Ratio Information

FOR the purpose of repealing restructuring the benchmarks that provide expense ratio
guidelines by which the Insurance Commissioner may require new rate filings on a
health benefit plan offered by a nonprofit health service plan, insurer, or health
maintenance organization; establishing certain loss ratio benchmarks; authorizing
the Insurance Commissioner to collect specified information by line of business for
health benefit plans in the State; providing for certain exceptions; imposing a
penalty for failure to file information with the Commissioner in a timely manner;
requiring certain information to be included in certain marketing materials:
authorizing the Commissioner to conduct certain examinations; and requiring the
Commissioner to transmit certain information to the Health Care Access and Cost
Commission by a certain date requiring the Commissioner to adopt certain

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