Bill to aid emergency medical services advances one round, in the Nebraska Legislature

BEATRICE – The priority bill of a southeast Nebraska senator that would provide additional financial support for emergency medical service units in Nebraska advanced to the second stage of debate last week.

LB 1108. Introduced by Senator Myron Dorn, seeks to help EMS services, especially in rural areas where some units are struggling to find enough members.
"Many squads are really dwindling in numbers, and they're having fewer people do all their calls or go on their runs. This bill will help a lot of those now....hopefully will help recruit some more."

Initially, the bill would have increased a 50-cent fee on license registrations to one-dollar. The 50-cents has provided about $1.27 million annually to go toward emergency medical services. The Governor’s office had supported a 50-cent hike in that fee.

But, Dorn says an amendment to the bill now seeks a second funding source…a capital maintenance fund of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission….which draws revenue from sales tax on ATVs and boats. That fee was scheduled to sunset at the end of 2026.

"We brought that in as an amendment. The Governor's people were more than fine, with it. So, instead of an extra fifty cents on every car license, it's now going to be out of that capital maintenance fund out of the game and parks. They are going to deposit the $1.275 million every year to up the EMS funding."

The bill would use revenue from both the 50-cent fee on vehicles registrations and from part of the Game and Parks Capital fund..adding another $1.27 million for EMS.

As amended, the bill moved to the second round of debate last week, on a vote of 33-0.