Posted: | January 20, 2017 12:58 PM |
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From: | Representative Martin T. Causer |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund Increase |
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation to increase the funding available through the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund (EMSOF) for our EMS delivery system. Under Title 75 (Vehicle Code) surcharges are assessed upon moving violations ($10) and DUI convictions ($25). The proceeds from these surcharges are used to fund the EMSOF. This currently generates approximately $10 million statewide. The surcharges have not been increased in over 20 years. As you may know, our volunteer ambulance companies have been struggling financially and the folks who provide the services find that the training they need is getting more expensive and harder to obtain, especially in rural parts of the Commonwealth. To address this growing problem, I am proposing to increase the surcharges to $20 and $50 respectively with an additional requirement that not less than 30% of the fund be used for EMS training needs in rural Pennsylvania and not less than 10% be used for equipment needs for individual ambulance companies. Please consider joining me in sponsoring this important public safety initiative to assist our EMS agencies. Previous cosponsors: BARRAR, W. THOMAS, DAVIS, WARD, HELM, O’NEILL, COSTA MASSER, TALLMAN, ZIMMERMAN AND CONKLIN |
Introduced as HB400