Assemblyman John DiMaio to Fight for EMT Training Funds

Assemblyman John DiMaio today blasted Governor Jon Corzine’s attempt to rob the state’s volunteer emergency services workers of their training fund.

“It is inconceivable to me how he can justify taking dedicated funds away from the EMT Training Fund to use to balance a budget that is full of waste and special-interest projects,” said DiMaio, who serves the 23rd Legistlative District. “This must be stopped immediately and I will do everything in my power to do so.”

From July 2007 to June 2008, nearly 3000 volunteers received EMT basic training, at total cost of nearly $1.5 million, paid for through a motor vehicle violation surcharge. During that same time period, an additional $1.5 million was used for state-mandated continuing education and other training. On Friday, it was revealed that $4 million of that fund was being re-appropriated into General funds, leaving a balance of only $400,000.

DiMaio is a life-member of the Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad. When he joined the squad as a charter member of the Youth Corps in 1973, the training requirements were significantly less than they are today. Currently, one must complete 120 hours of training, perform 10 hours of clinical work and pass a challenging State certification exam. The cost of the EMT training course is $550.

“The time commitment alone that our volunteers make to the community is tremendous,” DiMaio said. “To further require them, their squads or the municipalities they serve to pay for the training is insulting, especially when there has been money collected specifically for this purpose. This is one more example of taking money from the top, and passing the burden down to the local level."

"Let’s not forget that it was a volunteer EMT who was one of the first to stop at the scene of his accident on the Parkway two years ago,” DiMaio added. “Not everyone has the luxury of traveling with a State Police escort. If the Troopers had not been following his vehicle, his life would have been in the hands of that volunteer EMT.”