This bill amends the West Virginia Code to enhance funding for emergency medical services (EMS) by continuing the Emergency Medical Services Salary Enhancement, Crisis Response, and Mental Health Treatment Fund. It specifies that the fund will be used for supplementing salaries and providing crisis response for county EMS personnel. The bill also introduces a new section that allows for the transfer of funds from the State Lottery Fund to this EMS fund, with specific conditions on how these funds can be utilized. Notably, the first $1 million of the transferred funds is earmarked for mental health treatment for EMS personnel, and any funds not used in a fiscal year can be redistributed to counties.

Additionally, the bill outlines that any money awarded to counties from the transferred funds must be matched by county funds or other sources, and explicitly prohibits the use of these funds for salary increases for EMS personnel. The Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services is tasked with proposing rules for fund distribution, focusing on counties with the greatest need, special levies for EMS, and challenges in recruiting and retaining personnel. An annual report detailing fund distribution and recommendations for continued funding is also mandated, with the first report due by July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-4-25, 29-22-18h