,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bhcj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #aj1 #bjah,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,roberts1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 and ,ms4 ,stabenow7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to reauthorize the rural emergency medical services training and equipment assistance program under section #ccj;,j of the ,public ,health ,service ,act4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,supporting and ,improving ,rural ,,ems ,needs ,act of #bjah or the ,,siren ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,reauthorization of rural emergency medical services training and equipment assistance program ,section #ccj;,j of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;c-#ae7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking in rural areas and inserting in rural areas or to residents of rural areas2 and 7#b7 by striking subsections 7b7 through 7g7 and inserting the following3 7b7 ,eligibility2 application ,to be eligible to receive grant under this section1 an entity shall-- 7#a7 be-- 7,a7 an emergency medical services agency operated by a local or tribal government 7including fire-based and non-fire based72 or 7,b7 an emergency medical services agency that is described in section #eja7;c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from tax under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code2 and 7#b7 submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,use of funds ,an entity shall use amounts received through a grant under subsection 7a7 to-- 7#a7 recruit and retain emergency medical services personnel1 which may include volunteer personnel2 7#b7 train emergency medical services personnel as appropriate to obtain and maintain licenses and certifications relevant to service in an emergency medical services agency described in subsection 7b77#a72 7#c7 conduct courses that qualify graduates to serve in an emergency medical services agency described in subsection 7b77#a7 in accordance with ,state and local requirements2 7#d7 fund specific training to meet ,federal or ,state licensing or certification requirements2 7#e7 develop new ways to educate emergency health care providers through the use of technology-enhanced educational methods2 7#f7 acquire emergency medical services equipment2 or 7#g7 acquire personal protective equipment for emergency medical services personnel as required by the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration4 7d7 ,grant amounts ,each grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount not to exceed #bjj1jjj4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term emergency medical services-- 7,a7 means resources used by a public or private nonprofit licensed entity to deliver medical care outside of a medical facility under emergency conditions that occur as a result of the condition of the patient2 and 7,b7 includes services delivered 7either on a compensated or volunteer basis7 by an emergency medical services provider or other provider that is licensed or certified by the ,state involved as an emergency medical technician1 a paramedic1 or an equivalent professional 7as determined by the ,state74 7#b7 ,the term rural area means-- 7,a7 a nonmetropolitan statistical area2 7,b7 an area designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a ,state2 or 7,c7 a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area 7as determined under the most recent rural urban commuting area code as set forth by the ,office of ,management and ,budget74 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal years #bjai through #bjbc4 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,the ,secretary may use not more than #aj percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 for a fiscal year for the administrative expenses of carrying out this section4 4