HB 2436 Summary

• Establishes the Emergency Medical Service Survival Act, creating two programs to address emergency medical services (EMS) in rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma.

• Creates the Rural Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic Scholarship Program, funded by at least $1.2 million annually from the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund, providing scholarships for students pursuing EMS education who commit to working two years in rural areas.

• Establishes the Rural Emergency Medical Service Survival Program, funded by at least $5 million annually from the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund, to provide financial support to licensed emergency medical service providers demonstrating financial need.

• Requires all licensed emergency medical providers to have both an emergency medical technician and paramedic available on every emergency or nonemergency response beginning January 1, 2018, with exemptions for volunteer providers and resource-overwhelming events.

• Sets standards for paramedic education programs, requiring educators to be nationally certified with minimum associate degrees beginning January 1, 2016, and mandating revocation of program licensure if first-time pass rates fall below 70% or the national average on the National Registry exam in three of five years.