HB357 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed OliverRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program, authorize regional agencies of the Office of Emergency Medical Services to participate

Summary

HB357 expands the Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program to include Alabama Department of Public Health regional EMS agencies as eligible partners and sets rules for how EMS tuition is paid, reimbursed, and required service after licensure.

What This Bill Does

It allows ADPH through its regional EMS offices to participate in the program alongside existing schools. It requires tuition for EMS certification to be paid and then reimbursed to the student’s sponsoring organization after the student completes the program, passes the exam, obtains an EMS license, and signs a service contract. Students must work at least two years for a qualifying ambulance service, volunteer rescue squad, or volunteer fire department; if they don’t meet service requirements (except in extreme hardship), they must repay the tuition with 8% interest. Funding is allocated from appropriations with priority to volunteers and nonprofit EMS providers, and the program includes annual reporting and a 10% administrative expense cap.

Who It Affects

• EMS students pursuing EMSP certification and the organizations sponsoring their tuition, who will have their tuition paid upfront and reimbursed after meeting program requirements in exchange for a two-year service commitment.
• Volunteer ambulance services, volunteer rescue squads, volunteer fire departments, and the educational/regulatory bodies involved (ACCS, Alabama Fire College, University of South Alabama, and ADPH regional EMS agencies) that administer, fund, and enforce the program requirements.

Key Provisions

• Adds the Alabama Department of Public Health's regional EMS agencies as eligible educational institutions for tuition reimbursement.
• Requires ACCS, the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama to jointly develop and administer the program with input from EMS associations.
• Tuition costs are paid and reimbursed to the sponsoring organization after the student completes the approved EMSP course, passes the certification exam, obtains an EMSP license, and signs a service contract.
• Excludes tuition costs covered by grants or scholarships from reimbursement.
• Requires a two-year service commitment with repayment of tuition plus 8% interest if service requirements are not met (except in extreme hardship).
• Allocates funds based on available appropriations with priority to volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and nonprofit ambulance services; equitable distribution procedures to be created.
• Section 22-18-62 allows contracts with new EMSP students seeking certification.
• Requires annual reporting of program conditions, participants, and reimbursements to state leaders; data provided by participating institutions.
• Imposes a 10% cap on operating expenses for the program and requires a joint agreement to limit applications or reimbursements as needed.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

Education