S 23 ADJUST DISTRIBUTION FORMULA FOR EMS FUND

Sen Pete Campos

Actions: SPREF [1] SHPAC/SFC-SHPAC [4] DP-SFC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 Senate Bill 23 (SB 23) adjusts the distribution formula for the Emergency Medical Services Fund (EMSF) and makes an appropriation. 

 Health and Safety law is modified to increase the percentage of the EMSF that may be used for emergency medical services improvement projects from 22 to 23 percent. Qualifying projects include the purchase of emergency medical services vehicles, local and statewide systems support projects, the statewide trauma care system program, and the emergency medical dispatch agency support program. The Act also reduces the percentage of the fund that may be used for administrative costs, from three percent to one percent. Further, an appropriation is made of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from the General Fund to the EMSF for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2024 and subsequent Fiscal Years, to carry out the purpose of the Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a Fiscal Year will not revert to the General Fund. 

 Currently the cap on the percentage of the Fund that may be used for administrative costs is three percent. The cap on the percentage of the Fund that may be used for system improvement projects is 22 percent. If the bill does not pass, the funding allowed for administration would remain at the higher percentage; for system improvement, the funding would remain at the lower percentage.