Bill > SF1688

This bill establishes multiple grant programs and fees to support and improve emergency medical services (EMS) in Minnesota. It creates three primary grant programs: an Ambulance Service Cost of Readiness Grant Program to help ambulance services cover capital and operational expenses, an Emergency Medical Services Improvement, Modernization, and Sustainability Grant Program for political subdivisions to enhance local EMS systems, and a Rural Emergency Medical Services Uncompensated Care Pool Payment Program to support rural ambulance services. The bill introduces a monthly emergency medical services telecommunications fee for wireless voice service subscribers and a corresponding fee for prepaid wireless services, with the collected funds deposited into a special revenue account. The new programs aim to address financial challenges, improve response times, and ensure the sustainability of emergency medical services, particularly in rural areas. The bill also defines new terms like "medical response unit" and "specialized medical response unit" and includes detailed criteria for grant eligibility and award calculations. Additionally, the legislation includes provisions for transferring funds between the general fund and the emergency medical services special revenue account, with an initial transfer of $80 million to support these new initiatives.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1688&ssn=0&y=2025