Ch. 466

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

TOTAL AND permanent nature as certified by the State Workers' Compensation
Commission or other competent medical authority as designated by the County
Commissioners, then the volunteer is entitled to receive the benefits prescribed in
Subsection B of this section and any other benefits, regardless of age or length of service.
These benefits shall begin on the first day of the first month following the establishment
of the permanency of the disability.

E. IN THE EVENT THAT A QUALIFIED VOLUNTEER WHO HAS COMPLETED A
MINIMUM OF 25 YEARS OF CERTIFIED ACTIVE VOLUNTEER SERVICE WITH ANY
CHARLES COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY OR VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD, OR
COMBINATION THEREOF, SHALL BECOME PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED,
FOR ANY REASON, AND SUCH DISABILITY IS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE WORKERS'
COMPENSATION COMMISSION. OR ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY, OR OTHER COMPETENT
MEDICAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THEN THAT
VOLUNTEER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BENEFITS EARNED AS PROVIDED
UNDER SUBSECTIONS B AND C OF THIS SECTION. REGARDLESS OF AGE. THESE
BENEFITS SHALL BEGIN IN THE MONTH FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION OF DISABILITY.

E. F. In the event that any qualified volunteer shall die while receiving
benefits, then the surviving spouse is entitled to benefits equal to 75% of the volunteer's
benefits. This rate applies to any person who is receiving benefits on or before July 1,
1989, as well as to any person who begins to receive benefits after July 1, 1989. These
benefits shall terminate upon death or remarriage of the spouse.

F. G. In the event that a qualified volunteer dies prior to receiving any
benefits under this section, the surviving spouse is entitled to benefits equal to 75% of the
benefits earned by the deceased volunteer. This rate applies to any person who is
receiving benefits on or before July 1, 1989, as well as to any person who begins to receive
benefits after July 1, 1989. These benefits shall terminate upon death or remarriage. A
"qualified volunteer" is defined as:

(1) One who has completed 25 years of certified service; or

(2) One who is receiving benefits under Subsection H I of this section.

G. H. When a qualified volunteer dies, a death benefit of five thousand dollars
($5,000.) shall be paid to the volunteer's designated beneficiary.

H. I. In the event that any active volunteer fireman or squadman, herein
defined as one who has had at least two (2) years of qualifying service in the five (5)
preceding years, attains the age of seventy (70) years and fails to achieve the required
twenty-five (25) years of service, then the volunteer is entitled to a monthly benefit of the
number of years of certified service completed multiplied by four dollars ($4.). These
benefits shall be payable in the normal manner.

1. J. When an unqualified volunteer is killed in the line of duty during the
course of service as a volunteer fireman or squadman after July 1, 1989, a death benefit of
five thousand dollars ($5,000.) shall be paid to the unqualified volunteer's designated
beneficiary.

- 2778 -