HB385 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe LovvornRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Emergency medical technicians or paramedics, certification, tuition reimbursement program by community colleges, Ala. Fire College, and Univ. of South Alabama, Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Act of 2018.

Summary

Creates a state-funded tuition reimbursement program for EMT certification that requires recipients to serve with Alabama volunteer rescue squads or volunteer fire departments for a set period after licensure.

What This Bill Does

The program is developed and run jointly by the Alabama Community College System, the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama with volunteer-squad and volunteer-fire associations. It reimburses students’ actual tuition costs after they complete an EMT certification, pass the exam, obtain an EMSP license, and enter a contract to serve for three years; if they don’t meet the service requirement, they must repay the reimbursed amount plus 8% interest. Funding comes from direct Education Trust Fund appropriations, with unspent funds carried forward; starting Oct 1, 2018, new students can enter into contracts to obtain certification, and the program includes annual reporting and limits on administrative expenses.

Who It Affects

• Students enrolled in EMT certification programs at ACCS member institutions, the Alabama Fire College, or the University of South Alabama who seek tuition reimbursement and must commit to three years of service as EMSP with Alabama volunteer squads or volunteer fire departments.
• Volunteer rescue squads and volunteer fire departments in Alabama, which participate in the program through contracts and expectations that funded EMS personnel will meet service requirements; they may also be affected by reporting and administration standards set by the implementing institutions.

Key Provisions

• Joint development and administration of a student tuition reimbursement program by ACCS, the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama, in consultation with the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads and the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments.
• Tuition reimbursement equals the student’s actual tuition costs and is paid after documentation of course completion, passing the certification exam, valid EMSP license, and a contractual agreement to provide three years of service to a volunteer rescue squad or volunteer fire department in Alabama.
• If a recipient fails to meet service requirements (except for extreme hardship), they must repay the total tuition amount reimbursed plus 8% interest; associations must notify ACCS of noncompliant recipients.
• Starting October 1, 2018, member institutions may enter into contracts with new students seeking EMSP certification.
• Funding comes from direct appropriations from the Education Trust Fund; unspent funds carry forward to the next fiscal year; funds do not revert at year-end.
• Annual reporting by ACCS to the Governor and legislative leadership on participation, amounts reimbursed, and usage rate; if the usage rate is below 50%, a recommendation may be made to expand the program to cover volunteer firefighter certification expenditures.
• A joint agreement to administer the program includes a limit that operational expenses do not exceed 2% of funding in a fiscal year, with provisions to limit applications or reimbursements as needed.
• Monies received for program operations, including repayments, interest, and penalties, shall be used to fund tuition reimbursements.
• The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education