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H 4076

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2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Creates a special commission to study EMS as an essential service and issue funding, regionalization, and performance standard recommendations to improve coverage and equity.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 4076

Summary: H.4076 – An Act establishing a special commission on emergency medical services

An Act establishing a special commission to study and guide the implementation of emergency medical services (EMS) as an essential service in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The bill is designated as an emergency measure, intended to be enacted promptly to address public health needs related to EMS.

Purpose and scope

  • Establishes a special commission to study current EMS coverage, funding, and workforce, and to develop recommendations for sustainable funding, regionalization, workforce incentives, and performance standards.
  • Aims to address disparities in EMS availability and response times, particularly in underserved communities, and to consider new funding sources, including potential uses of fair share amendment revenue, federal grants, and public-private partnerships.
  • Recommends frameworks for regionalization, coordinated care, and accountability standards statewide.

Key provisions

  • Establishment: A special commission is created to study and guide the implementation of EMS as an essential service in the Commonwealth.
  • Final report: The commission must submit a final report with findings, recommendations, and proposed standards/legislation to relevant state officials and committees no later than 15 months after the act’s effective date. A draft may be released for public comment before final filing.
  • Administrative support: The Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) shall provide administrative and technical support to the commission.
  • Data access: The commission may request data, reports, or other information from state agencies, regional EMS councils, and municipal governments as needed.

Commission composition

The commission shall include:
- (i) The secretary of health and human services (or designee) as chair.
- (ii) The director of OEMS (or designee).
- (iii) One member appointed by the House Speaker from an urban EMS agency.
- (iv) One member appointed by the Senate President from a rural EMS agency.
- (v) Six members appointed by the Governor: two from regional EMS councils; two public health experts with EMS experience; one representative from a hospital-based EMS; and one public member with lived EMS experience.
- (vi) One member from the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.
- (vii) One member appointed by the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts, Inc. to represent municipal EMS.
- (viii) Two OEMS-appointed EMS professionals (one EMT and one paramedic).
- (ix) One member from the Massachusetts Ambulance Association, Inc.

Meetings, hearings, and timeline

  • Appointments and first meeting: No later than July 1, 2026, with quarterly meetings thereafter.
  • Public input: At least two public hearings to gather input from EMS providers, municipal leaders, and residents.

Work program and focus areas

  • Assess EMS coverage, funding, and workforce capacity across the Commonwealth.
  • Identify and address disparities in availability and response times.
  • Develop sustainable funding models and explore various sources (including fair share revenue, federal grants, PPPs).
  • Evaluate strategies for regionalization and shared services with existing regional EMS councils.
  • Address EMS workforce shortages through recruitment, training, incentives, and retention.
  • Develop performance metrics and accountability standards for EMS agencies statewide.

Status and procedural notes

  • Introduced: May 5, 2025.
  • Referred to Public Health; Senate concurred May 8, 2025.
  • Hearing scheduled for June 25, 2025.
  • Reporting date extended: The reporting deadline was extended to Tuesday, October 21, 2025 (as of the latest status).
  • Related bill: HD 2228 (the bill number referenced as replacing the prior version).

Potential impact

  • Creates a formal, multi-stakeholder body to drive EMS improvements, including funding reforms, regional cooperation, and standardized performance metrics.
  • Could influence EMS coverage equity, provider recruitment/retention, and the utilization of new funding streams (including possible allocations from the fair share amendment).
  • Results would inform future legislation and state policy on EMS infrastructure and public health readiness.

This summary highlights the bill’s substantive provisions, key governance structure, and anticipated timeline for deliverables.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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