2023 Maryland Statutes › Labor and Employment › Title 9 - Workers' Compensation › Subtitle 2 - Covered Employees and Employers › Section 9-234 - Volunteer Fire or Rescue Company

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)    (i)    “On duty” means:
1.    fighting a fire;
2.    performing a duty of a member of an advanced life support unit or an ambulance, first aid, or rescue squad in a volunteer company;
3.    except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, performing a duty that the volunteer company assigns to the member;
4.    performing a duty that a written bylaw or rule of government adopted for the volunteer company assigns to the member;
5.    going to or from performing a duty included under item 1, 2, 3, or 4 of this subparagraph;
6.    accompanying an accident or fire victim while being transported to a hospital in a helicopter;
7.    returning to the home station of the individual after accompanying a victim under item 6 of this subparagraph;
8.    performing a duty assigned to a member of a fire company appointed as a deputy sheriff under § 7–302 or § 7–303 of the Public Safety Article; or
9.    performing a duty assigned to an individual appointed to serve as a member of the fire police in Washington County under § 7–304 of the Public Safety Article.
(ii)    “On duty” does not include attendance of a member of a volunteer company at a social function unless a written bylaw or rule of government adopted for the volunteer company requires the attendance or participation of the member.
(3)    “Volunteer company” means:
(i)    a volunteer advanced life support unit;
(ii)    a volunteer ambulance company or squad;
(iii)    a volunteer fire company or department;
(iv)    a volunteer rescue company, department, or squad; and
(v)    a volunteer fire police unit.
(b)    An individual who is a covered employee under subsection (h)(2), (k), (n), (o)(2), (p)(1)(ii), (r)(2), (v), or (x)(1) of this section continues to be a covered employee while:
(1)    accompanying an accident or fire victim who is being transported to a hospital in a helicopter; and
(2)    returning to the home station of the individual after accompanying a victim under item (1) of this subsection.
(c)    (1)    Unless an election is made under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Allegany County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners for Allegany County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(d)    A member of a volunteer company in Anne Arundel County is a covered employee while on duty.
(e)    A member of a volunteer company in Baltimore County is a covered employee while on duty.
(f)    A member of a volunteer company in Calvert County is a covered employee while on duty.
(g)    A member of a volunteer company in Caroline County is a covered employee while on duty.
(h)    (1)    Unless an election is made in accordance with this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Carroll County is not a covered employee.
(2)    A volunteer fire company in Carroll County may elect to make its members covered employees.
(3)    A volunteer fire company that elects to make its members covered employees shall pay the premium for the coverage.
(i)    (1)    A member of a volunteer company in Cecil County who meets the guidelines set under paragraph (2) of this subsection is a covered employee while on duty.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County may set guidelines to determine the eligibility of members of a volunteer company in the county for coverage under this subsection.
(3)    The guidelines under paragraph (2) of this subsection may not limit the number of covered employees in a volunteer company.
(j)    (1)    Unless an election is made in accordance with this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Charles County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners of Charles County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(k)    A member of a volunteer company in Dorchester County is a covered employee.
(l)    A member of a volunteer company in Frederick County is a covered employee while on duty.
(m)    (1)    Unless an election is made under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Garrett County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners for Garrett County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(n)    A member of a volunteer company in Harford County is a covered employee.
(o)    An individual is a covered employee:
(1)    while on duty as an actively participating member of a volunteer company in Howard County; or
(2)    if not covered under item (1) of this subsection, while a member of a volunteer company in Howard County participating in the activities of the volunteer company.
(p)    (1)    An individual is a covered employee:
(i)    while on duty as an actively participating member of a volunteer company in Kent County; or
(ii)    if not covered under item (i) of this paragraph, while a member of a volunteer company in Kent County.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners of Kent County shall impose annually a tax on assessable property in the county in an amount that is sufficient to pay for coverage under this subsection.
(3)    The Board of County Commissioners of Kent County may limit the number of members in a volunteer company in the county.
(q)    A member of a volunteer company in Montgomery County is a covered employee while on duty.
(r)    An individual is a covered employee:
(1)    while on duty as a member of the Laurel volunteer rescue squad in Prince George’s County; or
(2)    while a member of a volunteer company in Prince George’s County.
(s)    A member of a volunteer company in Queen Anne’s County is a covered employee while on duty.
(t)    (1)    Unless an election is made under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in St. Mary’s County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County may provide by resolution for the members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(u)    (1)    Unless an election is made under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Somerset County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(v)    (1)    A member of a volunteer company in Talbot County is a covered employee.
(2)    The County Council of Talbot County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(w)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, unless an election is made under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Washington County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners for Washington County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(3)    A member of a volunteer company in Washington County is a covered employee if the individual is at least 15 years old and is enrolled in the Fire and Rescue Academy Program operated by the Washington County Board of Education.
(x)    (1)    A member of a volunteer company in Wicomico County is a covered employee.
(2)    The County Council of Wicomico County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(y)    (1)    Unless an election is made under paragraph (2) of this subsection, a member of a volunteer company in Worcester County is not a covered employee.
(2)    The Board of County Commissioners for Worcester County may provide by resolution for members of a volunteer company in the county to be covered employees while on duty.
(z)    (1)    For the purposes of this title, a member of a volunteer company who is a covered employee under this section is an employee of the political subdivision of the State where the volunteer company is organized.
(2)    A member of a volunteer company shall be covered while on duty by a policy of workers’ compensation insurance.
(aa)    A member of a volunteer company who is a covered employee under this section may not be considered a paid covered employee of the volunteer company for receiving as a membership benefit a yearly stipend of $5,200 or less to help offset out–of–pocket expenses.