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JFAC adds $250,000 and 3 FTE to support transfer of emergency medical services to Military Division
Summary
The committee approved $250,000 in personnel funds and three full-time equivalent positions to the Military Division’s management program to support the transfer of the state Emergency Medical Services program from the Department of Health and Welfare; members said the change reflects the need for support staff lost in the transfer.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a motion to provide $250,000 in personnel funding and three full-time equivalent positions to the Military Division’s military management program to support the relocation of the state Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program from the Department of Health and Welfare.
Frances Lippett, a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, said the proposal continues committee action taken the prior day to transfer EMS from the Department of Health and Welfare to the Military Division and to provide a part-time medical director and one-time transition costs. Lippett told members the additional $250,000 would fund personnel in the Military Division’s management program, which houses administrative, fiscal, human resources and procurement functions for the division. “When you are comparing the number of personnel that were removed from the Department of Health and Welfare to those that would ultimately be added to the military division, the military division would gain one additional FTE here,” Lippett said.
Representative Price asked why additional employees were needed after the move. Lippett explained the Department of Health and Welfare has “a deeper bench of support services” because it is a larger agency (about 3,000 FTP) compared with the military division (about 435 FTP), so moving EMS will reduce available shared support and requires dedicated staff in the receiving division to fulfill procurement and administrative tasks.
Senator Burkey moved the motion to add $250,000 in dedicated funds and three FTE to the Military Division; Representative Galaviz seconded. Senator Bjerke spoke in support of the change, saying the military division had agreed to take on the service and analysis showed additional staff were needed. The committee recorded a roll-call tally of 16 ayes and 4 nays; the chair announced the majority had voted in the affirmative, and the item will go forward with a do-pass recommendation.
The committee’s action provides staff funding and positions; it did not alter statutory authority for EMS or change program policy in the hearing record. Lippett and proponents framed the addition as necessary to replicate administrative support previously available within the larger Department of Health and Welfare.
