§ 8153. Support of emergency medical services.

(a) Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund.--There is established a special fund to be known as the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, which shall be administered by the department.

(b) Source.--The following are the sources of the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund:

(1) Money collected under 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3121 (relating to EMS costs) and 3807(b)(1)(ix) (relating to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition).

(2) All fees, fines and civil penalties collected by the department under this chapter.

(3) Appropriations.

(4) Contributions.

(c) Purpose of fund.--Except as provided under subsection (d), 75% of the money from the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund shall be disbursed by the department for only the following uses:

(1) To eligible EMS agencies for applicable purposes stated under section 8112(c) (relating to contracts and grants), with at least 10% of these funds to be allocated to provide additional financial assistance for those EMS systems serving rural areas.

(2) To the board for the performance of duties imposed upon it under this chapter.

(3) To regional EMS councils for the development, maintenance and improvement of EMS systems, including ambulance and communications equipment, and for training, education and EMS agency licensure purposes.

(4) To other contractors and grantees as authorized under section 8112(j).

(d) Allocation to Catastrophic Medical and Rehabilitation Fund.--Twenty-five percent of the money in the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund shall be allocated to a Catastrophic Medical and Rehabilitation Fund for victims of trauma. After the exhaustion of all alternative financial resources, other than those excluded by the department from consideration, the catastrophic fund shall be available for the purchase of medical, rehabilitation and attendant care services for trauma victims and may be made available for the purchase of supportive services such as respite care and counseling services for the family or household members of trauma victims. The department may, by regulation, prioritize the distribution of funds by and within classification of traumatic injury.

(e) Audit.--The Auditor General shall review collections and expenditures made under this section and report its findings to the General Assembly annually. The audit shall include a review of the collections and expenditures of the regional EMS councils.