HB 2238 — An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system, further providing for support of emergency medical services.

PRINTER'S NO.   2931

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                             HOUSE BILL
                             No. 2238
                                                    Session of
                                                      2026

     INTRODUCED BY PUGH, STENDER AND ZIMMERMAN, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 20, 2026


                                         AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system,
 3      further providing for support of emergency medical services.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.         Section 8153 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
 7   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding subsections to read:
 8   § 8153.    Support of emergency medical services.
 9      * * *
10      (g)    Report.--
11             (1)   The department shall submit an annual report to the
12      Auditor General and the General Assembly no later than
13      October 1 of each year.
14             (2)   The report shall include, at a minimum:
15                   (i)    A complete accounting of all expenditures from
16             the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund for the
17             preceding fiscal year.
18                   (ii)    Documentation accounting for all payments from
 1          the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund used for
 2          statutorily authorized purposes.
 3                (iii)   A list of all recipients that received funds
 4          from the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund and
 5          documentation of their compliance with accounting and
 6          reporting requirements.
 7                (iv)    A corrective action plan for any noncompliant
 8          recipient of funding from the Emergency Medical Services
 9          Operating Fund.
10          (3)   The department shall publish the report on its
11    publicly accessible Internet website within seven days of
12    submission under paragraph (1).
13    (h)   Conditional release of administrative funds.--
14          (1)   If the department fails to submit the report under
15    subsection (g) by the deadline, all administrative funds from
16    the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund allocated to
17    the department shall be withheld by the Secretary of Health
18    until full compliance is met.
19          (2)   An EMS agency, ambulance service, rescue squad, fire
20    department or regional EMS council may not have its
21    operational funding from the Emergency Medical Services
22    Operating Fund withheld, delayed or reduced as a result of
23    department noncompliance under this subsection.
24          (3)   Administrative funds withheld under this subsection
25    shall lapse to the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund
26    and may not be reappropriated to the department if the
27    department fails to comply within 180 days of the deadline.
28    (i)   Accountability.--
29          (1)   The Secretary of Health and director of the Bureau
30    of Emergency Medical Services shall each submit a sworn

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 1      certification verifying the accuracy and completeness of the
 2      report under subsection (g).
 3            (2)   A false certification made knowingly or recklessly
 4      shall be subject to penalty under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating
 5      to unsworn falsification to authorities).
 6            (3)   Failure to file the certification under this
 7      subsection shall result in:
 8                  (i)    Suspension of the director of the Bureau of
 9            Emergency Medical Services' eligibility for performance
10            bonuses or salary increases for that fiscal year.
11                  (ii)   Mandatory appearance by the Secretary of Health
12            before the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the
13            Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives
14            within 30 days.
15      (j)   Independent verification.--
16            (1)   The Auditor General shall annually verify the
17      completeness and accuracy of the report under subsection (g).
18            (2)   No new funds from the Emergency Medical Services
19      Operating Fund may be released to department administrative
20      accounts until the Auditor General certifies that the
21      department has implemented all corrective actions recommended
22      in prior audits.
23            (3)   The verification requirement shall not delay or
24      reduce operational payments from the Emergency Medical
25      Services Operating Fund to local EMS agencies or regional EMS
26      councils.
27      (k)   Corrective directives.--If the department fails to
28   comply with the provisions of this section, the Secretary of
29   Health shall be:
30            (1)   Prohibited from using funds from the Emergency

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1     Medical Services Operating Fund for administrative salaries
2     until compliance is met.
3         (2)    Mandated to implement specific internal controls.
4     The internal controls shall be shared with the Auditor
5     General.
6     Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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