8153 - Support of emergency medical services.

     § 8153.  Support of emergency medical services.        (a)  Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund.--There is     established a special fund to be known as the Emergency Medical     Services Operating Fund, which shall be administered by the     department.        (b)  Source.--The following are the sources of the Emergency     Medical Services Operating Fund:            (1)  Money collected under 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3121 (relating        to EMS costs) and 3807(b)(1)(ix) (relating to Accelerated        Rehabilitative Disposition).            (2)  All fees, fines and civil penalties collected by the        department under this chapter.            (3)  Appropriations.            (4)  Contributions.        (c)  Purpose of fund.--Except as provided under subsection     (d), 75% of the money from the Emergency Medical Services     Operating Fund shall be disbursed by the department for only the     following uses:            (1)  To eligible EMS agencies for applicable purposes        stated under section 8112(c) (relating to contracts and        grants), with at least 10% of these funds to be allocated to        provide additional financial assistance for those EMS systems        serving rural areas.            (2)  To the board for the performance of duties imposed        upon it under this chapter.            (3)  To regional EMS councils for the development,        maintenance and improvement of EMS systems, including        ambulance and communications equipment, and for training,        education and EMS agency licensure purposes.            (4)  To other contractors and grantees as authorized        under section 8112(j).        (d)  Allocation to Catastrophic Medical and Rehabilitation     Fund.--Twenty-five percent of the money in the Emergency Medical     Services Operating Fund shall be allocated to a Catastrophic     Medical and Rehabilitation Fund for victims of trauma. After the     exhaustion of all alternative financial resources, other than     those excluded by the department from consideration, the     catastrophic fund shall be available for the purchase of     medical, rehabilitation and attendant care services for trauma     victims and may be made available for the purchase of supportive     services such as respite care and counseling services for the     family or household members of trauma victims. The department     may, by regulation, prioritize the distribution of funds by and     within classification of traumatic injury.        (e)  Audit.--The Auditor General shall review collections and     expenditures made under this section and report its findings to     the General Assembly annually. The audit shall include a review     of the collections and expenditures of the regional EMS     councils.