General Assembly Report

Progress was made at the 2003 General Assembly Session. Key meetings with  legislators continued during the month of February. VAGEMSA leaders and members voiced their strong concern that 4-for-life monies, as appropriated last session, have not been used to fund broad first responder preparedness initiatives as originally detailed in the law. In addition, many stated grave concern about the proposed cuts to EMS through the proposed elimination of the $3.2 Million interim General Fund Allocation. Fortunately, through the work of many VAGEMSA Members the funding was restored after a great deal of work.  For those members and interested parties who wish to review the detail of the proposed cuts and ultimate restorations, they can be found in the Governor's Budget Bill under item 307 beginning on page 293. A review of the final Budget  can be found on the General Assembly's Web Site by clicking on State Budget then Budget Amendments for both House and Senate.     On the negative side, the General Assembly did support, for one year, an allocation of $1 Million to be transferred to the Virginia State Police Med-Flight Program from the RSAF Grant Funds. Although this was strongly opposed by essentially everyone in Virginia's EMS Community, it carried as a budget item for the coming year after much debate.

EMS Rules and Regulations Approved and Promulgated by Virginia Board of Health and Signed by Governor.

New Rules and Regulations Enacted on January 15, 2003

Following a long period of extensive public comment, the Virginia Board of Health has approved and promulgated the newly proposed  Rules and Regulations governing EMS in Virginia. These new regulations have also been reviewed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and signed by Governor Mark Warner.  The VAGEMSA executive committee recommends that all Virginia EMS Administrators review these regulations carefully and prepare detailed plans for  implementation of the extensive new regulatory requirements.  You are encouraged to brief your department Chief Officers and your local jurisdictional officials on the impact of the new regulations on your community and EMS System. At its August 9th meeting, the VAGEMSA membership was unanimous in asking the Executive Committee to  prepare a "highlights matrix" and summary  documents that may be helpful to members as we move forward with the implementation of the sweeping new regulations governing EMS in Virginia. These will be published as part of the Virginia EMS Rules and Regulations COMPLIANCE MANUAL and in the TRAINING PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL during the month of January.  Specific questions should be directed to Don Barklage, Past President and Chair of the State EMS Advisory Board's Regulation and Policy Committee.

Virginia EMS Rules and Regulations and OEMS Link

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Virginia EMS Funding Task Force Convened May 10, 2002

The State EMS Funding Task force convened on May 10 in Richmond to consider and prioritize budget requests for the $3.2 million allocation from the Governor's State Budget Amendments for the upcoming fiscal year. A smooth budget package was delivered to the administration June 1 from the Virginia Office of EMS. Additional information is available through the Virginia OEMS Web Site and from Bill Bullock, VAGEMSA's President. Refer to the Governor's Budget Reduction plan briefing above for the most up-to-date information.

Governor Mark Warner's Secure Virginia Initiative

     The Governor's Secure Virginia meetings concluded prior to the 2003 General Assembly Session . No additional meetings were scheduled in 2003. The final Health and Medical Sub-Panel  meeting, chaired by Delegate John O'Bannon, was held in Richmond and was again well attended by Virginia EMS System Leaders. Recent meetings have included a number of presentations  focused on current health and medical system capabilities and needs. 

     Several legislative bills have been developed in response to these meetings to facilitate medical care and response during disasters. VAGEMSA leaders will continue to stay actively engaged in this process. Eight additional sub-panels have also been meeting during this process. At the final meeting of the First Responder Sub-panel in Salem, VA., VAGEMSA 1st Vice President Dave Hoback presented an Urban/Governmental EMS Agency perspective on system needs. Chief Hoback used the 2003 VAGEMSA Terrorism/WMD Funding position paper as a foundation for his remarks. He indicated the position paper was picked up by the national news media. Well done Dave!

September 11, 2003 Commemoration Services and Vigils held around Virginia and the Nation

     Many individual localities held their commemoration services, vigils and activities associated with the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on America. VAGEMSA member agencies and leaders joined with fellow public safety agencies and citizens around the Commonwealth to remember and honor all of those whose lives were lost at the hands of terrorists and all of those who answered the call of duty on that day - now known as Patriot Day.

     May we be ever vigilant in serving those who survived and in meeting the many challenges ahead.

VAGEMSA Leaders Elected Chair and Vice-Chair of State EMS Advisory Board

     Dave Palmer and Don Barklage were elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the State EMS Advisory Board during the board elections held during a special called meeting on September 17, 2002 in Richmond. In addition, Chief Barklage was appointed to chair the Regulation and Policy Committee of the Board, a committee on which he has maintained an active and integral membership over the last several years. He is currently serving his second three-year gubernatorial appointment on the Advisory Board representing the Northern Virginia EMS Council. He is a Battalion Chief for The City of Fairfax Fire-Rescue Department. 

     Chief Palmer will chair the Human Resources and Training Committee. Dave has extensive EMS-Fire-Rescue Training experience having served as Norfolk's Chief Training Officer from 1981 through 1995. Palmer has served on the EMS Advisory Board and on the Regulation and Policy Committee since July 2000 representing VAGEMSA. He is an Assistant Chief for the City of Norfolk Department of Fire-Rescue. Dave and Don's combined career experience exceeds 50 years.

ANNUAL MEETING BRIEFING

     At VAGEMSA's Annual meeting on November 6, 2002in Norfolk, elections resulted in ascending officers including Bill Bullock as President and David Hoback as 1st Vice President and Dave Palmer as Immediate Past President. Our 2nd Vice President is Randy Abernathy from Hanover County and Jennie Collins was re-elected as Secretary- Treasurer. These officers will serve for two-year terms based on a change in the By-Laws as promulgated and adopted by the membership at this meeting. In addition to this By-Laws change, a new category of membership, Associate member, was approved. Associate memberships may be conferred on EMS organizations and/or their leaders after careful assessment by the VAGEMSA executive committee and board of directors. Associate members will have no voting privileges but will be expected to fully participate in discussions and activities of the Association and pay dues. Those interested in seeking Associate membership must submit the membership application as  located on this web site.

     Several additional housekeeping changes were also made to the By-Laws. The membership also approved the draft Articles of Incorporation for the Association. The Executive committee was tasked with moving forward with the submission of the Articles to the State Corporation Commission prior to the next meeting.  The membership was briefed by Bill Bullock, Dave Palmer and Dave Hoback regarding the Association's Legislative Position papers presented at the recent Virginia Fire Services Council legislative summit meeting in Henrico. Members were provided copies. Gary Brown, director of EMS provided the membership with a briefing regarding state budget cuts and potential impacts on the aid to localities. Following this briefing, the membership asked the executive committee to prepare an EMS Funding Defense Position paper for VAGEMSA to promulgate to the State EMS Advisory Board an during legislative work. This was accomplished with unanimous support from members.  Gary also asked VAGEMSA to assist in the revision of a legislative briefing document regarding the impact of EMS on Urban Economic Development etc. This one page draft document was completed by the VAGEMSA Writing Team and provided to Gary.