Bill Description: SCR 101 would call on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to develop a plan and draft legislation to create a state Emergency Medical Services system. 

Rating: -3

Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?

SCR 101 would call on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) to develop a plan and draft legislation "that recognizes EMS as an essential service and establishes a statewide EMS planning, coordination, and funding system to ensure reasonable availability of EMS across the state." This would expand the size, scope, and spending of government. 

(-1)

Does it transfer a function of the private sector to the government? Examples include government ownership or control of any providers of goods or services such as the Land Board’s purchase of a self-storage facility, mandatory emissions testing, or pre-kindergarten. Conversely, does it eliminate a function of government or return a function of government to the private sector?

Currently, emergency medical services are provided by a mixture of government entities, volunteers, and private sector companies operating within the market. SCR 101 would attempt to centralize EMS planning, coordination, and funding at the state level, which would tend to reduce the role of non-governmental actors in providing these services. 

(-1)

Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?

The Fiscal Note for SCR 101 calls for spending $700,000 over the next two years just on planning for this expansion of government. The actual costs of creating and maintaining a statewide EMS planning, coordination, and funding system are unknown. 

(-1)