HB3233 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10785 BAB 20865 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3233

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Bradley Fritts

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

210 ILCS 50/3.23 new

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Creates the Emergency Medical Service Response Task Force to investigate and provide legislative and policy recommendations regarding slow and dangerous response times for ambulance and EMS services in parts of the State, in particular services in rural communities. Provides that the Emergency Medical Service Response Task Force shall address, study, and provide recommendations on any aspect of the response time crisis deemed appropriate by the Task Force, including the sustainability of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems in rural communities throughout the State; any regulatory or administrative burdens or staffing restrictions placed on providers that contribute to staffing issues or slow response times; revenue shortfalls that challenge the sustainability and survival of ambulance or emergency medical services; and the report, findings, and any recommendations of the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force. Sets forth provisions concerning the appointment of members. Requires members to convene at the call of the co-chairs for at least 6 meetings, and provides that members shall serve without compensation. Requires the Task Force to submit its final report containing legislative and policy decisions to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than September 1, 2026, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task Force shall be dissolved.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act is amended by adding Section 3.23 as follows:

(210 ILCS 50/3.23 new)

Sec. 3.23. Emergency Medical Service Response Task Force.

(a) The Emergency Medical Service Response Task Force is created to investigate and provide legislative and policy recommendations regarding slow and dangerous response times for ambulance and EMS services in parts of the State, in particular services in rural communities.

(b) The Emergency Medical Service Response Task Force shall address, study, and provide recommendations on any aspect of this response time crisis deemed appropriate by the Task Force, including the following:

(1) the sustainability of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems in rural communities throughout the State;

(2) any regulatory or administrative burdens or staffing restrictions placed on providers that contribute to staffing issues or slow response times;

(3) revenue shortfalls that challenge the sustainability and survival of ambulance or emergency medical services; and

(4) the report, findings, and any recommendations of the EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force.

(c) 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 Minority Leader of the Senate;

(4) one member of the Illinois General Assembly, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, 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 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(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.

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

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

(f) The Task Force shall submit its final report containing legislative and policy decisions to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than September 1, 2026, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task Force shall be dissolved.

(g) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027.