Mississippi House Bill HB820

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

State Fire Academy; eliminate cap on emergency medical responders who can train at.

Impact

The removal of the training cap is anticipated to have a significant impact on state laws governing emergency medical training. By eliminating restrictions, the legislation could lead to an increase in the number of certified emergency medical responders, responding to the growing demands for advanced medical assistance in municipalities and rural areas alike. This move may also draw more funding for training programs and make emergency response services more robust across Mississippi.

Summary

House Bill 820 aims to amend Section 45-11-7 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, specifically targeting the training of emergency medical responders by the State Fire Academy. This legislation proposes to remove the existing cap on the number of emergency medical responders that the State Fire Academy can train, thereby allowing for an unlimited number of trainees. The intent behind this bill is to enhance the availability of trained emergency responders throughout the state, addressing a critical need in public safety and emergency response services.

Contention

Notably, the bill has undergone discussions in legislative committees where points of contention have arisen surrounding the financial implications of expanding training programs without a limit. Concerns voiced included potential overspending or the academy being unable to maintain quality training standards if too many students were enrolled at once. Nonetheless, proponents argue that the increased accessibility to training would ultimately benefit the community and improve emergency response capabilities.