PARAMEDIC LICENSING REQUIREMENTS S.B. 249:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 249 (as reported without amendment)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:
-- Modify provisions governing the licensing of paramedics.
-- Modify the definition of "examination".
-- Require an education program sponsor that was not accredited to inform an individual that the education program sponsor was not accredited before offering an education program to the individual seeking to become licensed as a paramedic.
BRIEF RATIONALE
According to testimony, roughly 1,000 paramedic jobs in the State remain unfilled. Reportedly, this is because paramedics have problems accessing affordable nationally accredited training programs, preventing people from entering the profession. Establishing a State accreditation program would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to ensure accreditation accountability while reducing the barrier of national accreditation costs. It has been suggested that this could alleviate Michigan's statewide shortage of paramedics.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)
Senate Bill 249 is a reintroduction of House Bill 6086 from the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. House Bill 6086 passed the House and was referred to the Senate Committee of the Whole but received no further action.
Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have a negative fiscal impact on the DHHS resulting from the requirement that the Department develop or prescribe a paramedic certification examination other than that examination developed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. The bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government.
The DHHS indicates that the cost to establish an examination program would be $2.0 million, while annual costs would be $1.6 million and an additional 15.0 full-time-equivalents. The cost to develop, implement, and maintain a paramedic certification examination would be offset by a fee charged to take the examination. The bill would limit the DHHS from charging a fee greater than the one charged by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, which currently is set at $160.
Date Completed: 10-20-23 Fiscal Analyst: Ellyn Ackerman
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.