Legislature(1997 - 1998)
03/19/1998 03:33 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 338 - TUITION WAIVER FOR EMT WIDOW/CHILD CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 338 before the committee as the first order of business and invited Ms. Howell to present an overview on the legislation. RENEE HOWELL, staff to Senator Green, read the following statement into the record. "Currently the state of Alaska grants tuition waivers to state- supported educational facilities for the families of members of the armed services killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 338 provides this tribute to families of emergency medical service providers that are killed in the line of duty by establishing a tuition waiver for the spouse and child to obtain an undergraduate degree from a state-supported Alaskan educational institution. "The reality of being placed in harm's way is part of the delivery of emergency medical services. EMS providers are in no less danger than their counterparts in the police and fire departments. They get shot, stabbed and assaulted. It is difficult to appreciate the danger associated with pulling an injured victim from flooding rivers, steep hillsides, and crushed motor vehicles. Although they may not be in the public eye as often, there is an EMS provider responding to every assault with injuries, every domestic violence case with injuries, every psychological emergency, every involved fire, every motor vehicle accident with injuries, every terrorist event and every hazardous materials spill with potential injuries. "In Alaska there are over 130 EMS calls per day equaling almost 50,000 per year. Although the data is not complete, EMS responses customarily are three to four times as frequent as responses to fires. This actuality places the EMS provider at risk. Between 1985 to current, there have been 10 EMS providers in Alaska who died in the line of duty. "In Alaska, there are many communities and villages that do not have either law enforcement or fire departments. However, very few are without emergency medical services. In many locations, the EMS responder is the only authority figure who regularly responds to every form of emergency, including ones that place the life of the responder in peril. The EMS person is the mental health professional and intervenes in all kinds of abuse and suicide situations and often becomes the eyes and ears of law enforcement. "EMS personnel provide for the protection and safety of all Alaskans. They are an integral part of the Public Safety community and deserve the same recognition and benefits as police and fire personnel." Number 054 CHAIRMAN GREEN asked if all EMS personnel are certified by the Department of Health and Social Services. MS. HOWELL acknowledged that they are, and she noted that paramedics are included under this bill as well, however, they are licensed by the State Medical Board. Number 085 MARK JOHNSON, Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services, Department of Health and Social Services, testifying in support of SB 338, confirmed that the department certifies EMTs from level I up to level III, as well as ground ambulance services and air medical services, including Medivac and air ambulance services, under statute and regulations. He said the legislation covers those who either work for or volunteer with a state certified emergency medical service, as well as paramedics working for a state certified ambulance service. Mr. Johnson said emergency medical providers encounter a variety of risks from hazardous rescue situations to infectious diseases, and the department thinks it appropriate that a tuition waiver be established for the spouse and children of a member of an emergency medical service who is killed in the line of duty. Number 110 MRS. R.J. NELSON, Fire Chief, Nenana Fire Department, testifying via teleconference from Nenana, commended Ms. Howell for her presentation on SB 338 and voiced her full support for the legislation. Number 116 CRAIG LEWIS, Director, Interior Region EMS Council, Fairbanks, testifying via teleconference from Fairbanks, stated that during previous testimony on HB 334 (TUITION WAIVER FOR POLICE WIDOW/CHILD) he encouraged the committee to develop this legislation for EMS providers. He expressed his appreciation to Chairman Green and Ms. Howell for doing an excellent job in putting the bill together. He said the legislation properly recognizes EMS providers and it puts them in an excellent position to feel equivalent to the other public safety people. Number 127 MS. RONNIE SULLIVAN, Executive Director, Southern Region, EMS Council, Anchorage, said EMS providers are routinely expected to respond quickly no matter what the weather is, which often means the kind of weather that causes someone else to be hurt badly. She voiced strong support for the legislation, which she said is an excellent and inexpensive way to say "Thank You" to the many EMS volunteers. Number 142 STEVE O'CONNOR, Assistant Chief, Central Emergency Services, Soldotna, as well as vice chair of the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services, testifying from Soldotna, said he also supported SB 338 for the same reasons as the previous speakers. He said the legislation goes a long way in recognizing one of the components of the community's public safety, and he urged its passage. Number 152 TIM EVERSON, Executive Director, Southeast Region, EMS Council, Sitka, testifying via teleconference from Sitka in support of SB 338, noted he is a volunteer EMS responder with the Sitka Fire Department. He informed the committee that over 100 Medivacs are performed each year in the Southeast Region, and these Medivacs are performed often times by volunteers in small planes and in hostile weather conditions. He said it would nice to provide this benefit to them in the case of a deadly accident. There being no further testimony on SB 338, CHAIRMAN GREEN stated she would accept a motion on the bill. Number 170 SENATOR WARD moved SB 338 and the accompanying fiscal note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
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