Texas Legislature

The Texas EMS Alliance serves as the unified voice of EMS agencies at the state capitol in Austin.

The 2017 Texas Legislature

TEMSA is encouraging all EMS agencies to engage their lawmakers during the 2017 Texas Legislature.  Click here to learn more: ems-advocacy-2016

TEMSA’s agenda for the 2017 Texas Legislature can be found here: TEMSA 2017 TX Legislature Priorities

The Cost of Readiness

EMS agencies are expected to be ready at all times and respond to every emergency within desired response time goals. To meet these goals, EMS agencies have to have capacity available that is not committed on calls.  EMS agencies refer to these non-revenue generating standby time as “the cost of readiness.”  Additionally, most insurance companies do not pay for ambulance service if the patient is not transported. Often, EMS agencies rely on local taxpayer subsidies to cover its shortfall due to insufficient patient fees being collected. If the Texas Legislature places limitations on EMS agencies to bill patients, then the local taxpayer will be forced to pay more.

Click here to learn more: TEMSA COST OF READINESS 2016

The Importance of Local Project Grants

LPGs provide a lifeline to many Texas EMS agencies.  However, the future of LPGs is threatened due to the “spend down” of the state’s tobacco settlement fund and other factors.  Click here to learn more about the importance of LPGs in Texas: LPGs TEMSA 2017

Texas EMS Assistance Program – HB 1407

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 1407, the Texas EMS Assistance Program, into law on June 15. HB 1407 creates the framework to preserve local project grants (LPGs) and develop a distance-learning program for rural paramedics.

TEMSA will work with Texas officials to secure funding mechanisms in the interim.

Click here to learn more about the legislation: Texas EMS Assistance Program FINAL

85th Legislature Bill Tracker

Click here to review the bills that TEMSA followed in the 2017 Texas Legislature.

Fuel Tax Relief – HB 1332

Legislation introduced by Representatives Tan Parker and Richard Raymond (HB 1332) would provide fuel tax relief to all EMS agencies that provide 9-1-1 services to Texas communities.  The 2015 Texas Legislature passed fuel tax relief for a limited number of EMS agencies set up as non profits.  However, this did not help city- and county-owned third service EMS agencies, hospital-based EMS agencies, and other entities that provide 9-1-1 services to Texas communities.

Click here to learn more about the issue: HB 1332 Fuel Tax