In the near future, I will introduce a package of legislation to increase flexibility for our local governments and emergency medical service providers.

Twenty years ago, a provision was added to the First Class Township Code, the Second Class Township Code, and the Borough Code that limits the amount of EMS tax that can be used to pay for salaries, benefits or other compensation for EMS workers to half of the revenue generated. Personnel costs have increased substantially since then, and this cap has become a burden for our EMS providers who need more resources to retain qualified employees. 

My legislation will not eliminate this provision, but it will give municipal governing bodies the opportunity to waive this 50% cap by passing a resolution at the local level. This empowers our local governments that have implemented a municipal EMS tax to determine whether providers in their coverage area can utilize more of this revenue to meet their personnel needs.

We all want prompt, high quality emergency medical care in the event of a sudden illness or injury. Unfortunately, as in many other sectors, it has become challenging to attract and retain EMS workers. These bills will give our municipal officials the option to provide more flexibility for our EMS providers without changing their existing EMS tax rate. Please join me in co-sponsoring these three measures.