(210 ILCS 50/3.22)

Sec. 3.22. EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force.

(a) The EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force is created to address the following:

(1) the impact that the EMT and Paramedic shortage is having on this State's EMS System and health care system;

(2) barriers to the training, recruitment, and retention of Emergency Medical Technicians throughout this State;

(3) steps that the State of Illinois can take, including coordination and identification of State and federal funding sources, to assist Illinois high schools, community colleges, and ground ambulance providers to train, recruit, and retain emergency medical technicians;

(4) the examination of current testing mechanisms for EMRs, EMTs, and Paramedics and the utilization of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, including current pass rates by licensure level, national utilization, and test preparation strategies;

(5) how apprenticeship programs, local, regional, and statewide, can be utilized to recruit and retain EMRs, EMTs, and Paramedics;

(6) how ground ambulance reimbursement affects the recruitment and retention of EMTs and Paramedics; and

(7) all other areas that the Task Force deems necessary to examine and assist in the recruitment and retention of EMTs and Paramedics.

(b) The Task Force shall be comprised of the following members:

(1) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall serve as co-chair;

(2) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(4) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, appointed by the House Minority Leader, who shall serve as co-chair;

(5) 9 members representing private ground ambulance providers throughout this State representing for-profit and non-profit rural and urban ground ambulance providers, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(6) 3 members representing hospitals, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with one member representing safety-net hospitals and one member representing rural hospitals;

(7) 3 members representing a statewide association of nursing homes, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(8) one member representing the State Board of Education, appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(9) 2 EMS Medical Directors from a Regional EMS Medical Directors Committee, appointed by the Governor; and

(10) one member representing the Illinois Community College Systems, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(c) Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.

(d) The Task Force shall convene at the call of the co-chairs and shall hold at least 6 meetings.

(e) The Task Force shall submit its final report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than September 1, 2024, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task Force shall be dissolved.

(Source: P.A. 103-547, eff. 8-11-23; 103-563, eff. 11-17-23.)