PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

S.B. 585

(3)     Protective equipment, including helmets, turnout coats and pants, boots,
eyeshields, gloves, and self-contained respiratory protection units;

(4)     Any other equipment necessary to carry out the ordinary functions of
supporting fire fighting and rescue activities; or

(5)     Facilities used to house fire fighting equipment, ambulances, and rescue
vehicles.

(d) (1) A grant or loan awarded under this section may not:

(i) Be used to refinance any debt or other obligation of a volunteer
fire company or rescue squad incurred before July 1, 1982; or

(ii) Be expended for replacement or repair of eligible items to the
extent that insurance proceeds are available for those purposes.

(2)     A volunteer fire company or rescue squad receiving trust funds under
this section shall provide at least a 30 percent matching dollar amount for grants or loans,
as the case may be. If a volunteer fire company or rescue squad cannot reasonably provide
the required dollar match prior to disbursement of trust funds, the Board of Public Works
may waive that requirement or provide for repayment of the matching dollar amount
within a reasonable period of lime not to exceed 18 months from the date of purchase of
the equipment or facilities.

(3)      Funds to provide the required matching dollar amount may include
contributions from local government. However, a local government may not reduce the
amount of money that the volunteer fire company or rescue squad would otherwise be
entitled to receive from the local government because of State financial assistance
provided under this section.

(4)     Financial assistance from the trust fund may not be approved if a
volunteer company has not made a good faith effort to obtain funds from its local
government.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1997.

May 22, 1997

The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed Senate Bill 585.

This bill extends from one to two years, the amount of time after termination of an agency
agreement with an agent or broker that an insurer must continue to renew through the
agent or broker any policy that has not been replaced with other insurers.

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