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2012 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Hanger
Allocate Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund to Sustain Volunteer Rescue Squads

Item 290 #1s

Item 290 #1s

First Year - FY2013 Second Year - FY2014
Health And Human Resources
Health, Department of FY2013 $80,000 FY2014 $80,000 NGF

Language
Page 215, line 11, strike "$36,120,756" and insert "$36,200,756".
Page 215, line 11, strike "$36,120,756" and insert "$36,200,756".
Page 215, after line 40, insert:
"F.  Out of this appropriation, $80,000 each year from the Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund shall be provided to the Volunteer Rescue Squad Assistance Workgroup for use in providing assistance and guidance to volunteer rescue squads and life saving crews who are facing closure or merger.  The Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Workgroup shall report on its activities and expenditures by December 15 of each year to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Appropriations and Health, Welfare and Institutions, and the Senate Committees on Finance and Education and Health."


Explanation
(This amendment allocates $80,000 each year from the Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund for the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads to help prevent Volunteer Rescue Squads from going out of business or being merged into volunteer fire departments. Currently, 67 percent of licensed Emergency Medical Services agencies in Virginia are staffed by volunteers, particularly in rural areas. Recently, a number of Volunteer Rescue Squads have gone out of business or been merged with volunteer fire departments at the behest of local governments. A workgroup has been developed to provide these squads with leadership training, financial training, marketing, community involvement, diversity, recruitment and retention. Funding will be used for four different phases of education to improve and sustain these squads.)