Healthcare
Emergency medical services
Extends county EMS penalty funding and pediatric trauma support through 2037.
Counties can continue using an added criminal-fine penalty to support emergency medical services. The law preserves dedicated funding for pediatric trauma care and access to children’s emergency services.
What the law does
- Extends until January 1, 2037, county authority to impose an additional $2 penalty for each $10 in criminal fines, penalties, and forfeitures, with proceeds deposited in the Maddy Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fund.
- Extends until January 1, 2037, the requirement that 15% of money raised from that additional penalty fund pediatric trauma centers or, in counties without one, improve pediatric trauma and emergency-service access and coordination.
- Continues limits on using the additional-penalty revenue for fund administration: actual costs or 10% of collections, whichever is lower.
Who it affects
- Counties and county boards of supervisors that choose to levy the additional penalty.
- Pediatric trauma centers, hospitals, emergency physicians and surgeons, and local EMS agencies.
- People assessed covered criminal fines, penalties, or forfeitures.
Context
The extended provisions otherwise would have expired on January 1, 2027.