HCS SB 370 -- MUTUAL-AID AGREEMENTS AND AMBULANCE SERVICE

SPONSOR:  Foster (Myers)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Local Government by a vote of 17 to 0.

Under current law, any fire department, municipal subdivision, or
county must have approval from the Governor before entering into
a mutual-aid agreement with other public or private agencies for
reciprocal emergency aid.  This substitute removes the
requirement that the Governor must approve these agreements.

The substitute also allows licensed ground ambulance services to
transport patients between licensed hospitals within their
service area in political subdivisions if they have entered into
a reciprocal emergency aid agreement.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow better
cooperation among all agencies and municipalities.  Most
political subdivisions who have mutual-aid agreements are
currently not requesting approval from the Governor because they
are not aware of the requirement.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Foster; and State Emergency
Management Agency.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Steve Bauer, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:13 am