CHARLESTON, W.Va. –A bill aimed at creating a permanent funding source for Emergency Medical Services statewide remains alive as it moves through the Senate.
The Senate Finance Committee passed House Bill 5168 on Wednesday. The bill passed the House of Delegates unanimously in February.
The legislation says that at the end of each fiscal year, lottery profits would be directed to a $12 million fund. Of that, $6 million would go to the Emergency Medical Services, crisis response and mental health treatment fund; $3 million to the county Emergency Medical Services fund; and $3 million to the All-County Emergency Medical Services fund.
Over the last five years several EMS units have closed because of financial pressures.
Randolph County Sen. Robbie Morris said during discussion that the issue is something he is passionate about and that he was grateful the bill made it to committee.
He said the funding should help EMS units that are struggling the most.
“EMS are hurting greatly throughout the state and this goes a long way, not far enough, but it at least sets a permanent funding stream and structure in which we can get dedicated funding to EMS, I think that’s really important,” Morris said.
Harrison County Sen. Ben Queen echoed those sentiments.
He said EMS units face challenges every day.
“I think we’re struggling to keep the men and women who step up to serve every day in this profession, and I think EMS are under some real real pressure, I think recruiting and retaining is getting harder and many of the departments cover larger and larger areas,” Queen said.
He also noted that while local governments have passed levies and fees to help, the issue ultimately becomes a state responsibility.
Queen said everyone who calls 911 deserves to know they will receive help.
“I hope that when someone calls 911 in our state that help should show up every time, no matter what your local tax base generates, I think that everyone deserves to know that when you call 911 someone’s going to show up,” he said.
The funds would be administered by the director of the Office of Emergency Management, and counties will be evaluated on a wide range of metrics.
The measure is scheduled for second reading in the full Senate on Thursday.