HB 4179

Abstract

Amends the Rescue Squad Districts Act, which is becoming the Emergency Services District Act on January 1, 2024. Increases the amount of the levy that a district may initially levy upon formation of the district from .20% to .40%. Provides that districts organized before January 1, 2024 may, by ordinance or resolution, increase the tax rate authorized by their organizational proposition by up to .20% (but no more than a .40% tax rate in the aggregate, including the amount levied under the organization proposition). Provides that the aggregate amount of all district tax levies may not exceed .80% (with no more than .40% authorized by the organizational referendum and .40% authorized by an ambulance service tax referendum). Provides that the board of trustees of a district may fix, charge, and collect fees not exceeding the reasonable cost of the service for ambulance services rendered by the district within or outside of the district (rather than fix, charge, and collect fees against persons who are not residents of the district and against businesses and other entities that are not located within the district). Removes a provision setting fee amounts at a rate not to exceed $250 per hour and not to exceed $70 per hour per ambulance worker responding to a call for assistance. Provides that the fee that may be charged to reimburse the district for extraordinary expenses of materials used in rendering ambulance services may be up to the reasonable cost of the materials. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that a rescue squad district organized before January 1, 2024 may increase, by referendum (rather than by ordinance or resolution), the tax rate authorized by its organizational proposition by up to an additional .20%. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Updates the text of the underlying bill. In provisions about charges for ambulance service, restores language requiring a fee charged to be computed at a rate not to exceed $250 per hour and not to exceed $70 per hour per ambulance worker responding to a call for assistance, but limits the provisions to apply to an individual patient and not to a third-party payer. Provides that a third-party payer shall pay the reasonable cost of the services rendered by the district. Defines "third-party payer". Provides that an additional fee may be charged to reimburse the district for documented extraordinary expenses (rather than for extraordinary expenses of materials used) in rendering ambulance services up to the reasonable cost of the materials, personnel, and operating costs. Limits some of the changes to apply only to counties outside of Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 70 ILCS 2005/11.4 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 1, but removes provisions modifying charges for ambulance service. Effective immediately.