As proposed legislation that would regluate how Montgomery firefighters raise money for a charity is being discussed in Annapolis, the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s regional chapter is having a tougher time serving about 600 county families.

At issue is the manner in which firefighters conduct their annual “Fill the Boot” campaign to raise money for the MDA. In past years, firefighters have walked along streets to collect money from drivers, raising as much as $250,000.

"That money is our lifeline, and when that money is cut, when we are forced to have to stop doing the campaign as traditionally done, there are clinic visits and research we cannot fund," said Stephanie Goldklang, executive director of the Greater Washington Area office of the MDA. "We base our budget on getting that $250,000."

In 2011, county firefighters raised about $94,000 for the MDA, because of changes in how they conduct the campaign, particularly not walking into the street.

County Fire Chief Richard Bowers issued an order for the 2011 campaign — which ran from Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 — that firefighters, including volunteers, were to not walk into the road to solicit donations.

The change arose following resident concerns regarding safety, coupled with recommendations by County Executive Isiah Leggett’s Task Force on Roadside Solicitation.

Also that year, the Montgomery County Council sought authority to regulate soliciting along the road, said Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg. Without enabling legislation, that power lies with the state.

“What has really brought the issue to a head is the increasing amount of roadside solicitation taking place in the county in recent years,” he said.

Andrews supported state legislation that would have allowed the county to prohibit soliciting along the road. He also proposed a county bill last year that would amend ethics guidelines to prohibt firefigthers from engaging in roadside solicitation on the county's dime.

According to the county’s interpretation of state law, which the firefighters’ union disputes, it is legal for people to stand in medians and along roads, but illegal for them to step off the curb and into the road to solicit drivers.

Bowers’ constraints isolated firefighters from cars in central lanes, and forced others to solicit in parking lots, resulting in significantly less revenue for MDA, said John J. Sparks, president of the Montgomery County Career Firefighters Association, International Association of Fire Fighters local 1664.

“This is about kids with neuromuscular diseases fighting for their lives,” Sparks said. “This is what is at stake here. It’s not about the union, not about the citizens or civic groups opposed to this. It really gets down to the kids.”

MDA serves about 5,000 families in the Washington, D.C., area, about 600 of which live in Montgomery County. Money raised in the county by firefighters stays locally to send children to camps, patients to clinic visits and to sponsor research.

Having less money to spend this year, the MDA cut its research grants to Children's National Medical Center, which serves Montgomery residents, Goldklang said.

With the 2012 Fill the Boot campaign about six months away, two bills on roadside solicitation await consideration this session in Annapolis.

One proposed by Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Dist.14) of Burtonsville would allow the county to establish a permitting process for soliciting along the road; the other by Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Dist. 20) of Takoma Park and Del. Shelia Ellis Hixson (D-Dist 20) of Silver Spring would also enable the county to ban roadside solicitation, said Del. Jeff Waldstreicher, (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington, chairman of the delegation subcommittee on land use and transportation.

“We are in support of Del. Kaiser’s bill,” Sparks said, adding the bill addresses residents’ safety concerns, as well as concerns of allowing homeless people and illegitimate groups to solicit roadside.

On Monday, the county council unanimously voted to support the Raskin-Hixson bill, Andrews said.

“There are many ways to raise money for MDA,” Andrews said. “I don't accept that this is the only way that county firefighters can raise a substantial amount of money for MDA.”

Waldstreicher said it is unlikely both bills will be recommended to the delegation by his committee. One or none is expected to advance, he said.

kalexander@gazette.net