(a) Subject to the authority of the Secretary, the Commission shall:
(1) Keep minutes of its meetings and any other records it considers necessary;
(2) Cooperate with and assist schools in coordinating and improving all emergency services education and training activities;
(3) Cooperate with the University of Maryland in developing a program for accrediting emergency services instructors;
(4) Consult with emergency services instructors and personnel to develop minimum uniform education and training standards for emergency services instructors, personnel, and schools;
(5) Cooperate with schools to help standardize course content and reciprocity of college credits for emergency services education and training;
(6) Cooperate with appropriate government agencies to develop and maintain a current master plan for emergency services education and training;
(7) Cooperate with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute to develop and operate a system for collecting, analyzing, and exchanging information on emergency services education and training;
(8) Encourage, promote, and review new techniques, methods, and procedures for emergency services;
(9) Cooperate with and review material from other states and federal agencies on emergency services education and training;
(10) Recommend to the Secretary rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes and objectives of the Commission;
(11) Review any proposed or adopted national standards or certification programs for emergency services and recommend to the Secretary the actions that should be taken regarding them;
(12) Prepare an annual report on the activities of the Commission to the Secretary, the Governor, and, subject to § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly; and
(13) Provide a place of storage for the records of the Commission and the original Governor’s Commission on Fire Services.
(b) The Maryland Higher Education Commission shall provide staff services for the Commission.