Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee held testimony on HB 4785, a bill that would increase existing fees for licensing EMS personnel, vehicles and operations. This bill is part of the FY 2014 budget agreement, and the total increase anticipated (just over $1 million) has been built into the FY 2014 Department of Community Health budget.

The argument for the change is the fee increase is needed to maintain the current licensing and regulatory program for EMS. The bill would, however, increase costs for local EMS services.

According to an analysis by the House Fiscal Agency current fee rates were established in 1991. The analysis includes a chart tracking the proposed fee increases.

We have concerns about this increase in cost for our local EMS departments, and we are working with members to determine the impact of these fee increases to get that information to legislators.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org