Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River, is spearheading legislation to allow trained 17-year-olds to receive a medical first responder or emergency medical technician license. Prestin, a fully licensed paramedic and active first responder, is joined by Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, in introducing the bipartisan legislation. Rheingans sits on the Washtenaw Emergency Medical Services Commission.

“Our medical first responders and emergency medical technicians have reached a critical shortage in people interested in doing the work,” Prestin said. “This legislation would allow EMS agencies to advance the next generation of this crucial profession. We already allow high school students to train for these jobs. This package just ensures that those recruits can get into the workforce when they complete their coursework instead of waiting until their eighteenth birthday.”

House Bills 5154 and 5155 update state law to allow for individuals aged 17 and older to be eligible to apply for a medical first responder license. Under current law, only individuals aged 18 and older can apply for a license.

HB 5154 was referred to the Health Policy committee while HB 5155 was referred to the Regulatory Reform committee.

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