S-0967.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5755

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Roach, Stevens, Rossi and Heavey

Read first time 02/05/1999.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Using tobacco settlement funds for emergency medical services.

    AN ACT Relating to emergency medical care and emergency medical services; and adding a new section to chapter 43.79 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.79 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The emergency medical services assistance account is created in the state treasury.  Into this account shall be placed all moneys received by the state under the settlement of the state's legal action against tobacco product manufacturers, exclusive of costs and attorneys' fees.  On the first day of the months of January, April, July, and October of each year, the state treasurer shall distribute the funds in the emergency medical services assistance account to the counties ratably on the basis of population as last determined by the office of financial management.

    (2) Funds distributed from the emergency medical services assistance account under this section shall be used only for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services, including related personnel costs, training for such personnel, and related equipment, supplies, vehicles, and structures needed for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services, or for distribution by the county to emergency medical service districts, cities or towns, public hospital districts, urban emergency medical service districts, or fire protection districts within the county for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services.

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