AUSTIN (KXAN) — Paramedics could soon be exempt from tuition and laboratory fees while taking certain courses at public colleges and universities, thanks to a bill that recently passed in the Texas Legislature.
House Bill 1105, authored by Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin, applies to paramedics employed by a political subdivision of Texas.
Many of Texas’ paramedics are also firefighters, who already have access to fee exemptions under Texas law. Law enforcement officers also have access to exemptions. However, an author-sponsor statement of intent for HB 1105 states that as many as 6,000 paramedics in Texas are not employed by a fire department.
“In Texas, most paramedics working for a political subdivision are also employed as firefighters,” the statement reads. “Since firefighters are eligible … most paramedics have likewise benefited from these courses and the tuition exemption.”
When implemented, the law will direct the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to restrict how many remote students get exemptions to 20% of enrolled students.
Austin EMS Association (AEMSA) President James Monks provided the only testimony in support of the bill during an April 15 hearing, according to legislative records. AEMSA organizes Austin-Travis County EMS workers.
“I think it was an oversight. EMS is not quite at the top of everybody’s radar,” said Monks to KXAN on Thursday. “We got left out of the loop when [fee exemption] legislation initially passed, and I just tried to convince them that the initial intent of this legislation was to include paramedics … third service just kind of got left out.”
Representatives from the city of Austin, city of Houston, Texas AFL-CIO, Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts, Texas Fire Chiefs Association, Conference of Urban Counties, and County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas registered in support of the bill but did not testify. No one testified against or registered opposition with the Senate’s Higher Education committee.
Some AEMSA members have already indicated they will seek more training because of the bill, Monks said. He also said that the law would help ATCEMS retain staff.
“I definitely see it as step in the right direction,” Monks said. “It’s offering a further incentive for people who have their paramedic license or certification, so that they can go ahead and pursue higher education.”
Bill sponsor Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, provided a statement to KXAN, in which she said she was proud to help pass the bill.
“Nearly 9% of Texas paramedics are employed by a standalone EMS department but are excluded from participating in the tuition exemption program offered to their counterparts who work jointly with police and fire,” Eckhardt said. “This bill is about ensuring parity and opening vital pathways for more Texans to get to work helping their communities, especially those struggling with the greatest need for personnel.”
Monks also told KXAN that he was grateful for Cole and Eckhardt, and said that their staff were “fantastic.”
Unless vetoed, HB 1105 takes effect in September.