SB145 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

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, 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

SB145 expands and tightens the Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement program by lowering service time, adding ambulance service eligibility, boosting admin funding, and adding retroactive reimbursement provisions.

What This Bill Does

It reduces the required contracted service time after graduation and licensing from three years to two years. It expands eligibility to include students who contract to provide service to ambulance services. It increases the maximum admin reimbursement for program operations from 2% to 10% of the program funding each year and adds a retroactive reimbursement option for certain fees and expenses. It also sets documentation, liquidation, and repayment rules if service obligations are not met, and requires annual reporting by the administering entities.

Who It Affects

• Students pursuing Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic certification through ACCS, the Alabama Fire College, or the University of South Alabama who would receive tuition reimbursement and must commit to a service contract (now two years of EMS service after licensing and three years of service to a rescue squad/fire department).
• The Alabama Community College System, the Alabama Fire College, the University of South Alabama, ambulance services, volunteer rescue squads, and volunteer fire departments that administer, supervise, fund, and monitor the program and its service requirements.

Key Provisions

• Decreases the required contracted service time after graduation/licensing from three years to two years.
• Expands eligibility to include students who contract to provide service to ambulance services in addition to volunteer rescue squads or fire departments.
• Increases the annual reimbursement cap for program administration from 2% to 10% of the program funding per fiscal year and requires a joint administering agreement among ACCS, the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama.
• Adds Section 22-18-61.1 to allow retroactive reimbursement of certain fees and expenses, upon written request by an association or its members.
• Requires documentation (course completion, certification exam, EMSP license) and a contract to receive reimbursement; includes exclusions for costs covered by grants or scholarships and imposes repayment with 8% interest if service obligations are not met.
• Institutes annual reporting on program results and funding to state officials, and allows limiting applications or reimbursements if necessary.

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