PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1985, 2831

PRINTER'S NO.  3729

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

315

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY CAUSER, BARRAR, SAINATO, BAKER, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, DAY, DENLINGER, EVERETT, FARRY, FLECK, GABLER, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KULA, O'NEILL, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, ROCK, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH AND MURT, JUNE 2, 2011

  

  

AS AMENDED, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JUNE 12, 2012   

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

1

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and the

2

Joint State Government Commission to study the financial and

3

administrative effectiveness of the emergency medical

4

services system.

5

WHEREAS, The Emergency Medical Services System Act was

6

enacted as 35 Pa.C.S. Ch. 81 (relating to emergency medical

7

services system) to replace the former act of July 3, 1985

8

(P.L.164, No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services Act;

9

and

10

WHEREAS, The enactment of the Emergency Medical Services

11

System Act was the culmination of years of research and

12

preparation to update the emergency medical services delivery

13

system in this Commonwealth; and

14

WHEREAS, The Emergency Medical Services System Act changed

15

the emergency medical services delivery system from a system

16

based on national standards to a system based on curriculum; and

17

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth should continually assess and

- 1 -

 


1

revise the statutes and regulations which govern the functions

2

of emergency medical services agencies and providers and other

3

components of the emergency medical services system; and

4

WHEREAS, It is the public policy of the General Assembly to

5

ensure that the emergency medical services system adapts to

6

changing needs of the residents of this Commonwealth and

7

promotes the recruitment and retention of persons willing and

8

qualified to serve as emergency medical services providers in

9

this Commonwealth; and

10

WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds it to be in the public

11

interest to ensure readily available and coordinated emergency

12

medical services of the highest quality to the citizens of this

13

great Commonwealth; and

14

WHEREAS, There have been many changes in technology and

15

organizational administration since the inception of the former

16

Emergency Medical Services Act, such as the advent of the

17

community college system, online computer courses, national

18

associations and local area programs for emergency medical

19

services training; and 

20

WHEREAS, Changes in technology, systems management,

21

infrastructure and communications capabilities allow for the

22

Commonwealth to explore more beneficial approaches for the

23

provision of the highest quality system for the delivery of

24

emergency medical services, training and planning, as well as

25

all-hazard emergency preparedness and disaster response training

26

and planning; and

27

WHEREAS, The approximate $11,800,000 in annual funding for

28

these emergency medical services under the Emergency Medical

29

Services Operating Fund may be more effectively used under a

30

more streamlined system which uses existing training, planning

- 2 -

 


1

and infrastructure resources; and

2

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's Regional Counter-Terrorism Task

3

Force infrastructure is a model for the country and may serve as

4

a model for streamlining the current emergency medical services

5

system in this Commonwealth; therefore be it

6

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the

7

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a

8

performance review of the financial administration of the

9

emergency medical services system under the Emergency Medical

10

Services Operating Fund. The performance review shall include an

11

analysis of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, the

12

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Service Council and the 16

13

regional emergency medical services councils; and be it further

14

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission explore

15

enhancing the current system for the delivery of the

16

Commonwealth's emergency medical system through the use of

17

existing government and private sector programs, institutions,

18

facilities and infrastructure resources and nationally

19

recognized associations and organizations and that the

20

commission especially explore the feasibility of using the

21

Commonwealth's many colleges and universities and community

22

colleges, taking into account the availability of online

23

services and courses and the use of adjunct professors; and be

24

it further

25

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission examine

26

the possibility of streamlining and restructuring the regional

27

emergency medical services system and examine the feasibility of

28

matching the regional emergency medical services councils to the

29

current regional counter-terrorism zones within this

30

Commonwealth to minimize the duplication of services and

- 3 -

 


1

overlapping jurisdictions; and be it further

2

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee 

3

prepare a comprehensive listing of both the expenditures of the

4

Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund and a comprehensive

5

listing of all compensation packages of all employees of the

6

regional emergency medical services councils including the

7

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council; and be it

8

further

9

RESOLVED, That both the committee and commission make

10

recommendations for a more streamlined delivery model based on

11

their findings; and be it further

12

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission develop

13

legislation based on their findings; and be it further

14

RESOLVED, That both the committee and commission issue a

15

joint report of their findings and recommendations to the Chief

16

Clerk of the House of Representatives by November 30, 2012 June

<--

17

30, 2013.

- 4 -