SB329 Summary

• Establishes the Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Act of 2018 requiring the Alabama Community College System and Alabama Fire College to develop and administer tuition reimbursement for students completing EMT or Paramedic certification programs.

• EMT or EMT-Advanced certified students must provide 3 years of service to an Alabama volunteer rescue squad to receive reimbursement; Paramedic certified students must provide 5 years of service.

• Tuition reimbursement equals actual tuition costs paid and is only disbursed after students provide proof of successful course completion and passing the state certification exam.

• Recipients who fail to meet service requirements for reasons other than extreme hardship must repay the full reimbursed amount plus 8 percent interest.

• Program funding comes from direct appropriations from the Education Trust Fund, with unexpended annual funds carrying forward to the next fiscal year; ACCS and Fire College may limit applications and reimbursements to avoid exceeding annual funding.