Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Transfer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JFAC takes up transfer of Emergency Medical Services from DHW to Idaho Military Division; several transfer motions sent to Senate
Summary
JFAC reviewed trailer appropriations tied to House Bill 206 to move Emergency Medical Services from the Department of Health and Welfare to the Idaho Military Division; several transfer motions were recorded as failing the Senate committee and will be transmitted for further Senate action.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee considered trailer budget actions related to House Bill 206, which would transfer the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program from the Department of Health and Welfare to the Idaho Military Division.
On the Department of Health and Welfare side, the committee considered a motion to reduce the public health base appropriation by roughly $7.46 million and to transfer 6.2 FTP and $5,877,500 in federal funds (the preparedness and response portion of EMS) into the Physical Health Services program. That motion failed to receive a Senate majority on the committee floor and was recorded as failed and sent to the Senate for handling.
The committee then considered the mirror action to create a new EMS budgeted program in the Military Division and to add approximately $7.20 million and roughly 30.84 FTE to that new program. That motion passed on the House side but the Senate committee did not register a majority in the affirmative; the committee recorded the outcome as failed in the Senate and the matter will be transmitted to the Senate side per the committees'procedural agreement.
A separate motion to appropriate $60,000 from the general fund and $150,000 one-time from dedicated funds to fund a part-time medical director (medical control for EMS policies and field protocols) was also taken. That motion similarly failed to reach a Senate majority in committee and was sent to the Senate.
Supporters said placing EMS in the Military Division, under the Adjutant General and alongside the Office of Emergency Management, creates a more operational and mission-focused home for EMS functions, and leverages existing emergency-management capabilities (backup dispatch, HazMat programs, rural EMS) already in the Military Division. Opponents or cautious members raised procedural questions about whether trailer appropriations should move forward when related enabling legislation is not yet final and about the potential for double-funding if both the enabling statute and the appropriation are processed separately.
Because several motions lacked the Senate committee's affirmative majority, the committee recorded those actions as failed on the Senate side and will forward the matters for further action by the Senate committee as allowed by joint procedures.
