Yesterday, a bill co-authored by State Representative Travis Tranel of Cuba City and State Senator Howard Marklein of Spring Green was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers at the State Capitol. This legislation adds two volunteer rural emergency medical services providers appointed by the governor to the state’s Emergency Medical Services Board. Currently, the EMS board consists of 11 voting members and provides advice to the Department of Health Services (DHS) on a wide array of EMS policies and topics. Membership is heavily weighted toward paramedics, doctors, and professors with PhDs, excluding the volunteer rural department’s perspective. Representative Tranel says,
This new law will bring the total voting membership of the EMS Board up to 13 people. The two new board positions would be required to be filled by individuals serving in a rural volunteer department and be licensed below the paramedic level. (EMR, EMT, AEMT, or EMT-intermediate)
