NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

CHAPTER 907

HOUSE BILL 352

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO HELP DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE ASSOCIATION OF RESCUE SQUADS, INC.

Whereas, the North Carolina State Association of Rescue Squads, Inc., as originally organized in 1957 had seven member squads and has now increased in membership to a current total of 225 squads composed of 5,600 individual members; and

Whereas, the members of the Association are volunteers who are trained in the art of Emergency Medical Services and Rescue, who purchase their own personal equipment and uniforms, and who receive no remuneration for their services; and

Whereas, the member squads of the Association answer annually in excess of 58,000 calls within their communities, devote more than 325,000 man hours toward assisting their fellowmen in times of distress, spend more than 127,000 man hours annually to improve their knowledge in Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Techniques, and travel in excess of 1,500,000 miles annually in their rescue vehicles in order to accomplish these activities; and

Whereas, the services rendered by the Association are provided free of charge to the beneficiaries; and

Whereas, funds are urgently needed to establish a headquarters for the Association and to expand all of the services rendered to the State of North Carolina and its residents; and

Whereas, the quality and extent of services to be rendered to the State of North Carolina and its residents will be enormously enhanced by providing funds to help defray the operational expenses of the Association; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund of the State to the Department of Human Resources for a grant-in-aid to the North Carolina State Association of Rescue Squads, Inc., the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each year of the 1975-1977 biennium for the use of the said North Carolina State Association of Rescue Squads, Inc., to help defray the expenses incurred in the operation of the Association and to improve and expand the services rendered by the Association. These funds are in addition to any other funds appropriated for these purposes.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1975.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 26th day of June, 1975.