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Senate advances long‑worked EMS overhaul after amendments; first substitute passes unanimously
Summary
After multi‑year work with local providers and hospitals, the Senate passed a first substitute to the Utah Emergency Medical Services System Act, moving the bill to the House with broad bipartisan support.
The Utah Senate on Monday passed the first substitute to Substitute Senate Bill 54, the Utah Emergency Medical Services System Act, after floor adoption of a technical amendment and a brief discussion. Senate sponsor (recorded on the floor) said the bill had taken approximately two years of work with cities, private ambulance associations, fire departments and hospital groups.
"This amendment accomplishes that purpose as well," the sponsor said after describing a change to transport rules for certain mentally handicapped patients; the floor then adopted the amendment and the bill as amended. The sponsor emphasized that the bill redirects EMT revenues to the Department of Health to support training and testing and that stakeholders, including hospital associations, had reviewed the legislation.
The clerk recorded the first substitute as receiving 28 aye votes, no nay votes, and 1 absence; the bill will be transmitted to the House for enrolling and final signature. Senator Stevenson and others praised the bill’s completion and the collaborative work that produced it.
What happens next: The House will receive the first substitute for further action and enrolling; floor sponsors highlighted the bill’s goal of strengthening EMS operations and improving funding flows to the Department of Health.
