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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 13, 2019 12:02 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative David S. Hickernell |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Adding Stand-Alone QRS to Fire/EMS Grant Program (Former HB 1274 of 2017-18 Session) |
| I plan to re-introduce legislation that will authorize stand-alone volunteer quick response services (QRS) to receive a grant under the current state Fire and EMS Grant Program. Specifically, my legislation will only authorize QRS services that are truly volunteer stand-alone services. Under my proposal, a QRS must not be associated with or part of any other organizations, such as a fire company, EMS agency or hospital. It is my understanding that the volunteer QRS in my district may be the only stand-alone QRS service in the Commonwealth and that if there are others, the number is less than ten. A QRS does provide a very valuable and necessary service to our communities who rely on immediate medical attention by trained and licensed EMT's. In many of our communities, a QRS is the first entity to respond to an incident and render basic life support. Under the current law, all qualified EMS agencies and fire companies, including paid departments, can receive a grant. If a QRS unit is truly volunteer, independent and providing a service to our communities, then we should ensure that these types of first responders qualify for a grant to help maintain the EMS delivery system in our Commonwealth. Please join me in ensuring that these vital emergency medical services that we come to rely on can continue to provide necessary patient care. Previous Cosponsors: HICKERNELL, BOBACK, CUTLER, FEE, MILLARD, QUIGLEY, WARD and ZIMMERMAN |
Introduced as HB977