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Committee clears bill letting fire departments charge FEMA-based auto-extrication fees
Summary
Lawmakers reported HB 562 favorably after Representative Fontenot said the bill narrows earlier provisions to let fire departments charge for auto extrications using FEMA fee schedules; supporters and several unions were listed on witness cards.
The Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs on Wednesday voted to report HB 562 favorably after Representative Fontenot described the bill as a narrowed measure allowing fire departments to charge for vehicle extrication calls based on a FEMA schedule.
"This bill has obviously made some changes. It's now been streamlined to just allowing the fire service a vehicle where they can charge for auto extrications," Rep. Fontenot told the committee. He described FEMA-set fee levels, saying "a level 1 extrication would be $600 [and] a major extrication ... the maximum they could charge would be $1,800 per crash." He clarified that those rates come from another body and are not set by the bill.
The author's witness list included representatives from the Professional Firefighters, Louisiana Farm Bureau and the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association; Chad Major sat with the author "for moral support," he said. On motion of Senator Kathy the committee "report[ed] favorably HB 562," and the chair recorded no objections.
The bill authorizes, but does not require, fire departments to adopt an extrication fee tied to an external FEMA schedule; it does not appropriate funds or change emergency response duties. The transcript lists multiple supporting witness cards; one person was noted as wishing to speak but did not. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the fee schedule and existing practice; the author said some departments already bill similar rates.
Because the committee reported the measure favorably, HB 562 moves forward in the legislative process. Implementation would require local fire departments to adopt billing practices and any collection would be subject to the limits described in the bill and in existing law.
