SB29: Bill Text

LRB-0589/1

TJD:kjf

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Senate BILL 29

February 8, 2017 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

SB29,1,4 An Act to amend 20.435 (1) (ch) and 256.12 (5) (title) and (a); and to create 256.12 (5) (am) of the statutes; relating to: funding for first responder and emergency medical technician training and certification and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill is explained in the Notes provided by the Joint Legislative Council in the bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

Joint Legislative Council prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the Joint Legislative Council Study Committee on Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Shortages. The bill makes certain modifications to the emergency medical services funding assistance program, which is administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS).

Under current law, funds are available through the program to ambulance service providers that are public agencies, volunteer fire departments, and nonprofit corporations, for certain qualifying expenses. A portion of the funds may only be used to pay for costs associated with EMT-basic level training or continuing education. Currently, DHS distributes this portion of the funds using a multi-level formula that considers call volume and whether the service has an EMT-basic on its service roster.

This bill expands the permitted use of the portion of the funds that currently may only be used to pay for EMT-basic level training or continuing education. Under the bill, an ambulance service provider may use the portion of the funds, which is currently dedicated to EMT-basic training, to also pay costs associated with first responder level training or continuing education, including examination costs. The bill also specifies that an ambulance service provider may escrow unused funds in the year they are distributed. In any subsequent year, the escrowed funds may be used to purchase the training required for licensure or renewal of a first responder certificate or any level of EMT license, and for those examination costs. The use of these escrowed funds is not limited to only first responder or EMT-basic training and continuing education costs.

SB29,1 Section 1. 20.435 (1) (ch) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB29,2,6 20.435 (1) (ch) Emergency medical services; aids. The amounts in the schedule for emergency medical technician — basic and first responder training and examination aid under s. 256.12 (5) and for ambulance service vehicles or vehicle equipment, emergency medical services supplies or equipment or emergency medical training for personnel under s. 256.12 (4).

SB29,2 Section 2. 256.12 (5) (title) and (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

SB29,2,17 256.12 (5) (title) Emergency medical technician and first responder training and examination aid. (a) From the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (1) (ch), the department shall annually distribute funds to ambulance service providers that are public agencies, volunteer fire departments, or nonprofit corporations to purchase the training required for licensure and renewal of licensure as an emergency medical technician — basic under s. 256.15 (6) or for certification and renewal of certification as a first responder under s. 256.15 (8), and to pay for administration of the examination required for licensure or renewal of licensure as an emergency medical technician — basic under s. 256.15 (6) (a) 3. and (b) 1 or certification or renewal of certification as a first responder under s. 256.15 (8).

SB29,3 Section 3. 256.12 (5) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

SB29,3,7 256.12 (5) (am) If an ambulance service provider does not use funds received under par. (a) within a calendar year, the ambulance service provider may escrow those funds in the year in which the funds are distributed to the ambulance service provider. In a subsequent year, an ambulance service provider may use escrowed funds to purchase the training required for certification or renewal of certification as a first responder or licensure or renewal of licensure as an emergency medical technician at any level or to pay for administration of the examination required for certification or renewal of certification as a first responder or for licensure or renewal of licensure as an emergency medical technician at any level.

SB29,3,8 (End)