HB213 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe LovvornRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Act of 2018; to amend Sections 22-18-60, 22-18-61, 22-18-63, and 22-18-64, Code of Alabama 1975, to decrease the required contracted for service time after graduation and licensing from three years to two years; to expand the program to include students who contract and provide service to ambulance services; to provide exclusions from reimbursement; and to increase the amount of operational expenses reimbursed to the Alabama Community College System; and to add Section 22-18-61.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the retroactive reimbursement of certain fees and expenses.

Summary

HB213 lowers the service time for tuition reimbursement, expands who can participate (including ambulance services), increases administrative funding, and adds retroactive reimbursement options under Alabama's Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Act.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill reduces the required service commitment after certification from three years to two, broadens eligibility to include ambulance services, and creates exclusions from reimbursement. It increases the portion of program funds that may be used for administration (from 2% to 10%), sets guidelines for how funds are divided among volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance services, and allows retroactive reimbursement of certain tuition-related costs. It also establishes funding rules, annual reporting, and a mechanism to transfer unspent funds to support EMS equipment and grants, with oversight by the Alabama Joint Fire Council.

Who It Affects

• Students pursuing EMS certification who contract to provide service to volunteer rescue squads, volunteer fire departments, or ambulance services (and their sponsoring institutions), who may receive tuition reimbursement and must meet service requirements.
• Alabama Community College System (ACCS), the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama, which administer the reimbursement program and coordinate funding, documentation, and reporting.
• Volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and nonprofit ambulance services that may receive reimbursement funds and, starting in some years, EMS equipment and operation grants.
• Associations (Alabama Association of Rescue Squads, Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, Alabama Association of Ambulance Services) that participate in administering the program and arranging contracts.
• The state government, which is responsible for funding, billing, and enforcement (including potential damages if service obligations are not met).

Key Provisions

• Decreases the required contract service time after graduation/licensing from three years to two years.
• Expands eligibility to include students who contract and provide service to ambulance services (in addition to volunteer rescue squads and volunteer fire departments).
• Increases the maximum percent of program funding that can be used for operational expenses from 2% to 10% per fiscal year, with procedures to allocate funds equitably among participating entities and priority given to volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and nonprofit ambulance services.
• Allows retroactive reimbursement of actual tuition costs (excluding required fees) upon written request, and outlines conditions under which associations or members may seek reimbursement.
• Requires reimbursements to be paid directly to the student’s sponsoring organization (squad, department, ambulance service, or association) and only after documented completion, licensure, and contractual compliance.
• Establishes consequences for failing to meet service requirements (breach with monetary damages and 8% interest, unless due to extreme hardship), and requires notification to ACCS.
• Creates annual reporting by ACCS on program participation and amounts reimbursed, and outlines transfer of unexpended funds above $500,000 to the Alabama Fire College for EMS equipment and operation grants, with approval by the Alabama Joint Fire Council.
• Adds Section 22-18-61.1 to allow retroactive consideration of tuition cost reimbursement, and clarifies effective dates for different parts of the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.