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House approves measure to strengthen rural EMS with grants, regional EMTs and vehicle support
Summary
A bill to reestablish an EMS grant program, fund regional medical technicians, and subsidize vehicle purchases passed the House after sponsors cited a longstanding $22 million funding shortfall and long rural response times; the bill will move to the Senate.
Representative Owens presented second-substitute House Bill 389 to address an extended shortfall in emergency medical services funding and capacity, particularly in rural Utah. Owens said the Legislature had reduced EMS funding about 12 years earlier and that the state is about $22 million short compared with earlier levels. He outlined provisions to restore regional emergency medical technician positions, provide vehicle purchase assistance (up to $100,000 per vehicle toward purchases that can exceed $200,000), and simplify grant timelines by offering multi-year grants.
"So this will, establish the grant program with the very prescriptive measures," Owens said, describing regionally based EMTs and targeted vehicle support. He noted rural counties such as Wayne County host many visitors but have small resident populations and face disproportionate EMS demands.
Members from rural districts supported the bill, stressing volunteerism and crises in rural EMS capacity; Representative Lyman and Representative Albrecht described local challenges and urged the chamber to act. Sponsor remarks included a reporting requirement to the interim Health and Human Services committee by November 30, 2022, to evaluate implementation.
The House approved the second substitute and the bill will proceed to the Senate for consideration, according to floor action recorded on March 2.
Next steps: Transmittal to the Senate; interim reporting requirement to track implementation.
Implementation notes: Sponsor cited a fiscal ask of about $4 million; specific appropriation details were discussed in committee and on the bill file but not fully itemized on the floor.
