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Committee advances ‘distressed ambulance’ program to appropriations after debate on rural coverage
Summary
Senate Bill 2033, which creates a Distressed Ambulance Service Program to identify struggling ambulance services and coordinate corrective plans, passed the Senate Human Services Committee on a 5–1 vote and was re‑referred to appropriations for funding and implementation details.
The Senate Human Services Committee advanced Senate Bill 2033 after hearings in which hospital and emergency medical services representatives told lawmakers rural ambulance services are increasingly at risk and that a structured state process is needed when local systems fail.
Senator Kristen Rohrs, sponsor for the bill that emerged from interim work, said the bill is designed to strike a balance: provide state assistance when local systems cannot resolve failures while avoiding unnecessary state takeover. "We don't wanna be the heavy hand of government, but sometimes when they are unwilling to work, we wanna make sure that we can be as proactive as possible so we don't have ambulances closes with closing with no notice," Rohrs said.
Adam Parker, advocacy chair for the North Dakota EMS Association, framed the proposal around sustainability: “The level of service that you get is directly related to the cost that the public has to provide to support.” Parker told the committee volunteer shortages, financial strain and long service areas mean many ambulances are moving from volunteer to mixed or paid staffing models.
Under the bill, the Department of Health and Human Services would identify ambulance services that are out of compliance with law or regulation, have indicated an intention to cease operations or show a substantial likelihood of failing to respond. The department would notify the licensee and local political subdivisions, request a corrective-action plan (45 days to respond unless imminent closure requires faster action), and—if the service is declared distressed—appoint a coordinator to produce a local EMS plan and lead public meetings.
The bill allows the department to request reasonable reimbursement from the distressed service for costs the state incurs while taking measures to maintain response coverage. The bill sponsors and supporters said that provision preserves local “skin in the game” while giving the state tools to ensure continuity of emergency response.
Department of Health and Human Services official Chris Price told the committee the fiscal note estimates general-fund spending of $209,842 in the current biennium and $218,180 the next biennium to administer the program; the department said additional administrative resources will be needed to move from a reactive to a proactive approach. Representative Robin Weisz (House district 14) and EMS association representatives backed the bill for its planning and intervention features.
Senator Kathy Hogan moved a do-pass recommendation with re-referral to appropriations; Senator Kristen Rohrs seconded. The committee voted 5–1 (Clemens opposed) to advance the bill to appropriations for funding and implementation review.
