Ambulance attendant education costs reimbursement requirements modification and appropriation
Summary
SF1133 expands and updates Minnesota’s reimbursement program for ambulance attendant education costs. Under current law, the state reimburses licensed ambulance services for certain volunteer EMT education expenses. This bill broadens that program so the director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services must reimburse eligible Minnesota licensed ambulance services for the necessary costs of initial and continuing education for both emergency medical responders (EMRs) and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), including tuition, transportation, food, lodging, hourly pay for time spent in training, and other necessary expenses.
The bill also changes the reimbursement amounts and eligibility rules. It sets specific maximum reimbursements for initial EMT, EMT continuing education, initial EMR, and EMR continuing education courses, and limits eligibility to ambulance services that responded to 5,000 or fewer calls in the most recent calendar year. To qualify, an attendant must complete an approved course and serve for one year as an active member of a Minnesota licensed ambulance service. The bill appropriates $100,000 in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to support these reimbursements.
Impact
SF1133 amends Minnesota Statutes section 144E.35, which governs state reimbursement to ambulance services for volunteer education costs. The bill expands the statute from a narrower EMT-focused reimbursement program to one covering both EMR and EMT initial and continuing education, increases and specifies reimbursement caps, and adds a call-volume threshold that limits the program to smaller ambulance services. It also creates a direct general fund appropriation to the Office of Emergency Medical Services to pay for the expanded reimbursements.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears intended as a workforce support and rural/emergency medical services funding bill, suggesting a generally practical and supportive policy purpose focused on helping smaller ambulance services recruit and retain trained attendants.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is fiscal: the bill expands the categories of reimbursable training and appropriates state funds, which may raise concerns about cost and program sustainability. Another possible issue is the 5,000-call eligibility cap, which favors smaller ambulance services and could be viewed as excluding larger or busier services from assistance. The bill also requires a one-year service commitment after certification, which may be seen as necessary to protect the state’s investment but could be viewed as restrictive by some providers or trainees.
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