1. Fund established. The Regional Fire Service Training Fund, referred to in this section as “the fund,” is established under the Maine Fire Service Institute within the Maine Community College System as a nonlapsing fund to provide funds to municipalities for regional fire service training in the State.

2. Grant program. The Maine Fire Protection Services Commission, referred to in this section as “the commission” and established pursuant to Title 5, section 12004?J, subsection 12, shall establish criteria to award grants to municipalities from the fund for the purpose of funding regional fire service training for municipal firefighters and public safety employees. The commission may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2?A.

3. Procedure. Municipalities may apply to the commission for grants. The commission shall evaluate each application pursuant to the criteria developed in subsection 2 and, to the extent funds are available, shall award grants from the fund to support regional fire service training programs.

4. Payment of grants. Upon the award of a grant by the commission, the commission shall direct the Maine Fire Service Institute within the Maine Community College System to make the payment of the grant award to the municipality from the fund.