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(a) Grant requests for funds from the EMS Enhancement Revolving Fund shall be reviewed by the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council specified in § 20-13-205 and recommendations for recipients of grant funds made to the Division of Emergency Medical Services of the Department of Health.
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(b)
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(1) The grant funds shall be evenly divided between the public, private, and volunteer sectors.
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(2) For the purposes of this subsection, the public sector shall include only those applicants having paid employees.
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(c) The grant funds may be used to purchase or fund:
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(1)
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(A) Ambulances for use in providing emergency medical services to the residents of Arkansas.
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(B) Ambulances purchased with these funds shall meet the standards for and be registered at the I-A level or a higher level by the division;
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(2)
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(A) Rescue vehicles for use in providing advanced life support or basic life support emergency care.
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(B) Any vehicle purchased for advanced life support shall meet the standards for and be registered at the advanced rescue level by the division;
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(3) Equipment required on ambulances or required to provide advanced life support or basic life support rescue services;
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(4)
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(A) Training that leads to Arkansas licensure as emergency medical services personnel at the basic or advanced levels.
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(B) Failure to obtain licensure shall result in the repayment of funds by the grantee; or
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(5) Emergency medical services-related training approved by the division.
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(d)
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(1) The funds may only be used to improve services by increasing the capability and skills of emergency medical services.
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(2) Funds may not be used to maintain present status, pay salaries or daily operating expenses, contract for services, or purchase real property.
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(e) The funds may not be used for new services at a lower level than an existing licensed service which has been in operation for more than one (1) year in the service area.
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(f)
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(1) All property purchased with the funds shall be returned to the division if the licensed ambulance service ceases operations.
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(2) The division shall make every effort to redistribute returned property and supplies to the replacement service or other eligible existing services within the same county.
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(3) Should no eligible service exist or another eligible service not be established in the county within one (l) year, all purchases shall be redistributed by the division as needed.
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(g)
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(1) Any vehicle or equipment purchased with these funds shall be used for its intended purpose for at least three (3) years from its date of purchase.
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(2) Vehicles or equipment damaged or worn out within the three-year period shall be replaced with a like or better item at the grantee’s expense.
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