Authority: §§ 32.1-111.1 through 32.1-111.16, 32.1-116.1 through 32.1-116.3, and 46.2-694 A 13, Code of Virginia.

A. Out of this appropriation, distribution to localities shall be made each year in accordance with § 46.2-694 A 13 e, Code of Virginia, in an amount not to exceed twenty-five percent of the appropriation.

B. Out of this appropriation, $230,750 the first year and $230,750 the second year shall be provided from special funds to the Department of State Police for administration of criminal history record information for local volunteer fire and rescue squad personnel (pursuant to § 19.2-389 A 11, Code of Virginia), to the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (the Fund), and to the Regional Emergency Medical Services Councils (the Councils) for training program grants. Of the $230,750 each year, $25,000 shall be provided to the State Police, $100,000 to the Fund, and the remainder to the Councils for the above purposes. The State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board shall make recommendations regarding the awarding of the training program grants to the Councils. This funding for training program grants shall supplement, not supplant, existing resources for training programs.

C. Out of this appropriation, distribution to the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads shall be made each year in accordance with § 46.2-694 A 13 a, Code of Virginia, in an amount not to exceed two and one-half percent of the moneys collected for the emergency medical services special fund.

D. Out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year shall be provided from special funds to provide technical assistance for local government officials and a public awareness campaign on volunteerism for the Emergency Medical Services Program.

E. Distributions made under § 46.2-694 A 13 b (iii), Code of Virginia, shall be made only to nonprofit emergency medical services organizations.

F. The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board shall study the existing distribution formula for funding emergency medical services and providing financial assistance to Volunteer Rescue Squads to determine the most efficient and effective distribution methodology to enhance emergency medical services in the Commonwealth. The Board shall report its recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by September 1, 2000.

G. The Department of Health, in coordination and cooperation with the Department of Fire Programs, shall explore ways to consolidate the reporting requirements of fire departments that are required to report their emergency medical services activities to both agencies. The Department of Health, in coordination and cooperation with the Department of Fire Programs, shall develop a single report that will satisfy the regulations of both agencies.

H. The Department shall report on the status of its efforts to incorporate brain injury reports into the existing trauma registry. The Department’s status report shall identify (i) the actions that have been taken thus far and any additional actions necessary to integrate brain injury reports into the existing trauma registry; (ii) a specific time frame for completing the integration of brain injury reports into the trauma registry; and (iii) the mechanisms that will be established to allow the Department of Rehabilitative Services to access brain injury reports from the trauma registry. The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees, and the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1, 2001.