1. (a) Establishment.— The governing body may establish a volunteer service credit program that establishes the annual requirements for the certification of a volunteer in active service at a volunteer fire company or a nonprofit emergency medical services agency.

2. (b) Activities.— The volunteer service credit program shall consider the following activities in determining credit toward a certification of active service:

   1. (1) The number of emergency calls to which a volunteer responds.
   2. (2) The level of training and participation in formal training and drills for a volunteer.
   3. (3) The total amount of time expended by a volunteer on administrative and other support services, including fundraising and facility or equipment maintenance.
   4. (4) The involvement in other events or projects that aid the financial viability, emergency response or operational readiness of a volunteer fire company or a nonprofit emergency medical services agency.
3. (c) Guidelines.— The governing body shall, with the advice of the chief of a volunteer fire company and the supervisor or chief of a nonprofit emergency medical services agency or their designees, adopt guidelines, including forms and applications, necessary to implement this section.

4. (d) Eligibility list.— A notarized list of eligible active volunteers shall be submitted to the governing body, no later than 45 days before tax notices are to be distributed, by the following:

   1. (1) The chief of a volunteer fire company, where applicable.
   2. (2) The supervisor or chief of a nonprofit emergency medical services agency, where applicable.

Cross References. Section 79A21 is referred to in section 79A03 of this title.