PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 352

designated fire marshal in a county or municipal corporation, the State Fire Marshal shall
carry out the provisions of this article therein.

(i) The minimum qualifications for an assistant State fire marshal
shall be the completion of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1031 -
Fire Inspector I or the equivalent, as determined by the State Fire Marshal. However, all
legally appointed deputy State fire marshals or special deputy State fire marshals serving
as of July 1, 1985, are exempt from the minimum standard provisions of this section. The
State Fire Marshal may administer an examination based upon NFPA 1031 before a
person is certified as an assistant State fire marshal.

(ii) Upon recommendation of the State Fire Marshal, an assistant or
special assistant State fire marshal may be removed after an administrative hearing for
just cause by a majority decision of the State Fire Prevention Commission.

(2) Upon the advice of an assistant State fire marshal, the State Fire
Marshal may designate as a special assistant State fire marshal, a member of any fire
department, duly organized and operating in this State, if the designee is a full-time
employee of the fire department and performs fire inspections or fire investigations. The
Fire Marshal may designate as a special assistant State fire marshal any law enforcement
officer involved in arson investigations or any other suitable persons meeting the
standards established under this article. A special assistant serves at the pleasure of the
State Fire Marshal and without compensation from the State. The special assistant shall
assist the State Fire Marshal in carrying out his duties under this article.

(d) The State Fire Marshal's office shall have such assistants, consultants, and
employees as may be provided for in the budget from time to time. The full time
investigative and inspection assistants in the office shall be known as deputy State fire
marshals and shall meet the minimum qualifications required and complete the training
prescribed by the Maryland Police Training Commission for a police officer. The
requirement of minimum qualifications and training shall apply only to the full time
investigative and inspection assistants in the State Fire Marshal's office and not to the fire
inspectors and fire investigators of the local political subdivisions of the State.

[(e) The State Fire Prevention Commission may make recommendations to the
Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services on the daily administration of the
State Fire Marshal's office, including recommendations on budget and personnel
matters.]

7A.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Article 27, §§ 742 through 755 of the Code, fire
departments and rescue squads of the State or any of its political subdivisions, volunteer
fire companies and rescue squads, and any ambulance service licensed under § 13-515 of
the Education Article may request the State Fire Marshal or other authorized agency that
has access to the Criminal Justice Information System CENTRAL REPOSITORY IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES to conduct an
initial criminal [record] HISTORY RECORDS check on an applicant for employment or
appointment as a volunteer or paid fire fighter, rescue squad member, or paramedic on a
form prescribed by the State Fire Marshal.

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