To qualify for benefits, points shall be credited to each active volunteer member as follows:
(1) Service points shall be awarded for completion of training courses that are related to emergency services activities. A maximum of 25 points per year may be awarded, according to the following scale:
Service points | Duration of course |
5 | 6-19 hours |
10 | 20-44 hours |
15 | 45 hours or more |
(2) Service points shall be awarded for participation in training drills; required Fire Department training; and conferences, seminars and educational sessions that are related to emergency services activities. A maximum of 10 points per year may be awarded with one point awarded for each drill of at least two hours.
(3) (i) Service points shall be awarded for on-duty time spent in the station participating in either operational or administrative duties. A maximum of 20 points per year may be awarded, according to the following scale:
Service points | Duration of duty |
1 | Each full night of sleep-in duty |
1 | Each block of 4 hours of operational standby duty |
1 | Each block of 4 hours of collateral duty |
(ii) Every block of four hours of collateral duty carried out by an active volunteer member shall include at least one of the following types of activities:
1. conducting official business on behalf of the company and/or a County, State or national emergency services organization, such as the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter's Association, the Maryland State Firemen's Association or the National Volunteer Fire Council, including fundraising activities, administrative duties in support of the Fire Chief and/or the organization's leadership;
2. conducting public relations activities such as presentations and firehouse tours, participation in a fire company's open house, or providing any type of fire, safety and EMS education to the public; or
3. performing fire station maintenance including cleaning and repairing apparatus, equipment and facilities, planning and project managing company projects, or conducting yard and landscaping activities.
(iii) A maximum of one point per day may be awarded for sleep-in duty, standby duty, or collateral duty.
(4) Service points shall be awarded for serving in an elected or appointed position. A maximum of 25 points per year may be awarded, according to the following scale:
(i) for elected or appointed positions serving active companies or County, State, or national organizations representing the interests of the active volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services, 25 points for a full year of service or two points per month of prorated service;
(ii) for appointment as chairperson of a committee serving the company or County, State, or national organizations representing the interests of the active volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services, 15 points for a full year of service or 1.25 points per month of prorated service; and
(iii) for appointment as a member of a committee serving the company or county, state, or national organizations representing the interests of the volunteer fire, ems, and rescue services, 10 points for a full year of service or .8 points per month of prorated service.
(5) Service points shall be awarded for attendance at meetings serving the company, or County, State, or national organizations representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. A maximum of 20 points per year may be awarded, with one point awarded per attendance at an official meeting.
(6) Service points shall be awarded to active volunteer members who respond to emergency fire, EMS, and rescue calls, in-service or response ready company transfers, and/or in-service standbys as dispatched by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department or the transfer jurisdiction. Credit shall be given at a rate of .5 point per response. There is no maximum for the points earned for responses.
(7) A maximum of four years of certified service may be awarded if an active volunteer member's service is interrupted for full-time extended service in the United States Armed Forces. The active volunteer member may be awarded four points per month for less than one year of interrupted service or 50 points for a full year of interrupted service provided the active volunteer member:
(i) is an active company member in good standing;
(ii) has at least one year of prior active certified service; and
(iii) provides official military orders showing assignment out of the local area.
(8) An active volunteer member with at least 20 years of service who cannot complete the length of service award program due to a total and permanent disability not connected to the performance of duties as a volunteer fire fighter shall be awarded 50 points per year until reaching 25 years of service.
(Bill No. 90-16)