MAINE FIREFIGHTER TRAINING FUND

§3161.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Municipal fire department.__"Municipal fire department" has the same meaning as in section 3151.

2.__Qualified firefighter.__"Qualified firefighter" means an active municipal firefighter or an active volunteer firefighter, as defined in section 3151.

3.__Volunteer fire association.__"Volunteer fire association" has the same meaning as in section 3151.

§3162.__The Maine Firefighter Training Fund

1. Fund established.__The Maine Firefighter Training Fund, referred to in this section as the "fund," is established to provide training funds annually to all qualified firefighters in the State.

2.__Purpose.__The purpose of the fund is to provide $100 annually for each qualified firefighter statewide toward the cost of providing a minimum of 24 hours of training annually.

3.__Administration.__The Maine Fire Training and Education Program within the Maine Technical College System administers the fund.__Within 30 days of the close of each calendar year, the chief of each municipal fire department and each volunteer fire association shall submit a roster of the names of all qualified firefighters to the Maine Fire Training and Education Program.__ Based upon the roster numbers, the Maine Fire Training and Education Program shall directly disburse funds for each qualified firefighter to each municipal fire department and each volunteer fire association.__Funds received under this chapter must be expended only for training or training materials.

4.__Authorization.__In administering this fund, the Maine Fire Training and Education Program may accept public and private funds to support the fund.

5.__Fund information.__The Maine Fire Training and Education Program shall provide fund information to volunteer fire associations and municipal fire departments on a regular basis.