Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Project To Facilitate the Acquisition of Basic Emergency Medical Training in Rural Communities in the State

Whereas,  a large percentage of emergency medical services personnel in rural areas of the State are volunteers; and

Whereas,  demographic changes are depleting the pool of available emergency medical services personnel, and rural emergency medical services entities struggle to recruit volunteers; and

Whereas,  it is critical to address issues of recruitment of emergency medical services personnel, especially in the rural areas of the State; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Basic emergency medical training; pilot project. Resolved: That the Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services shall establish an emergency medical services apprenticeship pilot project to expand the pool of available emergency medical services personnel. Maine Emergency Medical Services shall establish apprenticeship programs in 4 geographically diverse towns in the State with 5,000 or fewer residents and, as part of the pilot project, shall ensure the provision of accessible and affordable basic emergency medical training classes in those towns.

Maine Emergency Medical Services shall provide a report by January 15, 2019 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over emergency medical services matters regarding the status of the pilot project and its effect on the number of emergency medical services personnel in rural areas of the State and containing recommendations for the continuance, discontinuance or modification of the pilot project.

The pilot project terminates March 15, 2020.

SUMMARY

The purpose of this resolve is to address issues of recruitment of emergency medical services personnel in the rural areas of the State. This resolve directs the Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services to establish an emergency medical services apprenticeship pilot project to expand the pool of available emergency medical services personnel. Maine Emergency Medical Services is directed to establish apprenticeship programs in 4 geographically diverse towns in the State having 5,000 or fewer residents and provide accessible and affordable basic emergency medical training classes in those towns.