Thank you, to the committee and chairs for this opportunity. I am a native and resident of Hampton Roads who is also a former award-winning NASA engineer turned entrepreneur and award-winning economic development leader. As a private citizen and on behalf of all citizens of the State, I make the following request: Specifically, I urge you to support a critical budget amendment of $400,000–$700,000 to fund wildlife crossing projects in Virginia. This funding is essential to provide a state match for federal funding opportunities and to advance projects selected by the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The reason for this request is straightforward, and the time is now – both of which I explain next. Wildlife Corridors, or Crossings, are simple enough in concept: they are passages placed in locations selected through careful study that allow large (and small) animals to get from one side of a road to another without ever being in the road itself. The need is high, as Virginia now ranks as the 9th WORST STATE in the country for animal-vehicle collisions and fatalities. This is a dramatic worsening from even two years ago when we were an unacceptable 15th-worst. This means the trend is going in the WRONG DIRECTION, and we must do something now. Indeed, “Hot Spot” areas of these casualties have been identified in ALL regions of the State very much including Hampton Roads, so the problem affects all Virginians. Having myself been witness to numerous instances of these tragic collisions, they are nothing but horrific. The loss of life – both human and animal – and the costs associated with these tragedies is tremendous... though AVOIDABLE, as we now know. Not only do Wildlife Crossings prevent tremendous loss of both human and animal life as well as prevent vast financial loss due to both fatal and non-fatal crashes – with an over 96% reduction demonstrated already in Virginia! – they’ve also been proven to ENHANCE TOURISM as well as significantly increase the SAFETY AND ECONOMY OF ROADWAY SHIPPING of all goods – i.e., major big, perpetual business benefits that can and should also be realized here in Virginia. The time is now because the available Federal funds targeted for leveraging are competitive and time-limited, and more and more states are positioning themselves favorably to compete for them. Importantly – and thanks to the past visionary strong bi-partisan support provided by our General Assembly through now two Administrations – Virginia has established itself as an early leader by virtue of the preparatory steps it has been able to complete in the area of Wildlife Crossings. In other words, Virginia and our Department of Transportation in partnership with all those who together developed our Wildlife Corridor Action Plan are fully ready and desiring to take this powerful and transformative next step. That said, the competition is fierce and this opportunity is very much a “one shot deal.” We won’t be able to put off attempting to secure the significant Federal funding in the mindset that it will still be available even just a year from now... because it won’t be. Simply, if we provide this modest funding now, we will be able to leverage it many, many times over for tremendous and ever-compounding monetary and life-saving benefit – not to mention increased revenue generation -- for Virginians, businesses, and visitors beginning the moment you say YES! THANK YOU.

I am Daphne Cunningham, the Executive Director of the Hampton Newport News Community Services Board. I want to first thank all of you and the Governor for your support of our behavioral healthcare system. Thanks to your hard work, we are truly making progress in serving individuals with significant behavioral healthcare needs. Although we were recently awarded workforce funds, CSBs need continued funding to help address staffing needs and ensure that we can meet our responsibility to our citizens. I am also asking that you support a 12.5% rate increase for substance use disorder services that did not receive a rate increase when other behavioral healthcare services did. These funds will help build out programs such as office-based addiction treatment to help us to continue to impact the opioid epidemic. I also ask that you support the VACSB request for $1.5 million dollars to allow CSBs to be reimbursed for restoration for competency to stand trial services for which DBHDS funding is currently exhausted. This funding has been exhausted each year for the past 6 years, leaving CSBs to shoulder this unfunded mandate. Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to make our legislators aware of proposed changes to mental health case management for youth and adults. In last year’s session, DMAS was given the authority to make changes to community mental health services, including the ability to replace case management with a tiered structure. In recent conversations, we have learned that this proposed structure will likely result in some individuals who have had case management for years, possibly being phased out of this service and not having case management at all. Case Managers serve as a direct link to the CSB as well as numerous community services to help assist individuals with navigating their health and hardships. At our CSB alone, there are over 1000 people who receive this service. A case manager ensures that Individuals have someone to call to help them process choices, identify services, and link them to resources. This is a code-mandated service that provides stability to thousands of Virginians diagnosed with mental illness, and it should never be at risk. Governor Youngkin’s Right Help Right Now Crisis Model includes someone to call and someone to respond; Case Managers have been at the forefront for decades, doing just that, which helps avert many crises and lessens the burden on our crisis system. While DMAS rationalizes this proposed change by stating that other community services can support these needs, this approach fails to consider that many people remain stable because of Case Management and to take this away removes that stability. It also does not consider the fact that many of the services being proposed have failed in the past as community services continue to be decimated by MCOs and authorization issues that preclude CSBs from being able to provide services that are clinically indicated. Case Management has been the one staple that has persisted through these changes. While we agree that all services should be reviewed over time, we do not support any change that may result in people losing services that have kept them stable and linked to CSBs. To do so sets us several steps back and is in direct conflict with the steps we are taking forward to shore up our behavioral healthcare system. Please oppose any changes that would take away case management services from the people who depend on them.

Hi, I'm Damon Fratarcangelo, and I live in Williamsburg and work for Hand 'N Heart , a personal care service provider supporting seniors and veterans throughout the entire peninsula of Virginia. We provide home based care for senior citizens and veterans who require regular support, due to aging and/or disability, to continue living in their own homes and communities. Our services are much less expensive than nursing or facility-based care, are better for long-term health outcomes, and are what people want most often -- to stay in their own homes. We are asking that the Virginia General Assembly raise the rates for Personal Care services to $32.44 / hour to support the availability and delivery of home-based personal care. Right now, we are not able to fully meet the need for services in our community because the Medicaid rates for Personal Care are too low to attract and retain high quality staff. Potential workers can easily make more in service or retail jobs, or if they want to stay a caregiver, can make significantly more in a hospital or facility-based setting. Raising the personal care rates to $32.44/hr would go a long way to helping us recruit the staff that Virginia's citizens deserve. Thank you for taking our input and for your consideration. Sincerely, Damon Fratarcangelo RN, DON

Hello, My name is Mary Gavin and I work for Hand 'n Heart Homecare, a personal care service provider supporting seniors and veterans throughout Virginia. We provide home based care for senior citizens and veterans who require regular support, due to aging and/or disability, to continue living in their own homes and communities. Our services are much less expensive than nursing or facility-based care, are better for long-term health outcomes, and are what people want most often -- to stay in their own homes. We are asking that the Virginia General Assembly raise the rates for Personal Care services to $32.44 / hour to support the availability and delivery of home-based personal care. Right now, we are not able to fully meet the need for services in our community because the Medicaid rates for Personal Care are too low to attract and retain high quality staff. Potential workers can easily make more in service or retail jobs, or if they want to stay a caregiver, can make significantly more in a hospital or facility-based setting. After being in this industry for well over 25 years, it is heartbreaking to see so many good, caring caregivers choose a different career path, simply because they can't make ends meet with what we are able to pay, based on the low reimbursement rates from Medicaid. It's also heartbreaking to see our seniors go without the care they so desperately need and having to decide to either go without or leave their home for a nursing home. Let's face it...no one wants to leave their home and die in a nursing home. We are seeing more and more families reluctant to take in their mom or dad, because they have to work outside of the home and with the aide shortage, recognize more times than not, an aide may not be available. Prayerfully, change is on the horizon. Raising the personal care rates to $32.44/hr would go a long way to helping us recruit the staff that Virginia's citizens deserve. Thank you for taking our input and for your consideration. Sincerely, Mary Gavin, RN Director of Nursing

I currently serve as the President of the Tidewater Emergency Medical Services Council (TEMS), and I have been a member of the Board of Directors for over 22 years. The regional EMS council provides a framework that engages local governments and EMS agencies and provides support services that augments and enhances the regional EMS delivery system. As such, TEMS is in opposition of the proposed language to eliminate Emergency Medical Services Council boundaries and to keep the current language from January 1, 2008, as part of the upcoming proposed budget. HB 1600 Section 272 "E" listed below, is stricken from the Governor's proposed budget and TEMS does not support this budget change. Further, TEMS recognizes that changes need to be made within the Office of EMS and Virginia Department of Health based on years of financial mismanagement; however, the changes should not negatively impact the current services that Tidewater EMS Council provides to support the 20th and 22nd Planning Districts of Virginia. The Proposed Stricken Language in Section 272 Line E - "E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the Board of Health shall not modify the geographic or designated service areas of designated regional emergency medical services councils in effect on January 1, 2008, or make such modifications a criterion in approving or renewing applications for such designation or receiving and disbursing state funds." Striking this language allows the Virginia Department of Health to eliminate EMS Councils, including TEMS, which has served the Tidewater region and its 1.2 million citizens for over 50 years. It appears the basis for this change to the budget is a consultant's report provided by Fitch & Associates. Following the identified budget shortfall, Virginia Department of Health’s senior leadership paid an excessive amount of money for a consultant to generate a report on the Office of EMS. That report was discredited and disqualified by the Governor's own State EMS Advisory Board in a unanimous motion at their last meeting on November 15, 2024. The reports validity was questioned due to poor data quality and omissions. This 28-member Advisory Board represents all the EMS stakeholder groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia, appointed by the Governor to be the subject matter experts to ensure Virginia has a high-quality emergency medical services system. The renunciation of the Fitch Report by the Governor’s Advisory Board which was the catalyst for striking the current 2008 language should clearly illustrate that the EMS community is not supportive of the proposed language in HB1600 – Section 272 “E”. Developed initially around planning districts, the EMS Council service areas reflect the “REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM” that includes a multitude of stakeholders including EMS, hospital and healthcare systems, Long Term Care, Hospice, Dialysis Centers, Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, and fire departments. The regional EMS delivery systems address their unique challenges of geography, demographics, infrastructure, EMS staffing, medical resources, patient referral patterns, mutual aid, regional health determinants and identity. Tidewater EMS Council encourages an independent study from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) that can provide a fair evaluation of the Commonwealth’s EMS System and to make recommendations for the future.

As the Vice-President of the Tidewater Emergency Medical Services Council (TEMS), TEMS is in opposition of the proposed language to eliminate Emergency Medical Services Council boundaries and to keep the current language from January 1, 2008, as part of the upcoming proposed budget. HB 1600 Section 272 "E" listed below, is stricken from the Governor's proposed budget and TEMS with the support of our 10 local governments and 58 EMS agencies does not support this budget change. recognizes that changes need to be made within the Office of EMS and Virginia Department of Health based on years of financial mismanagement; however, the changes should not negatively impact the current services that Tidewater EMS Council provides to support the 20th and 22nd Planning Districts of Virginia. The Proposed Stricken Language in Section 272 Line E - "E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the Board of Health shall not modify the geographic or designated service areas of designated regional emergency medical services councils in effect on January 1, 2008, or make such modifications a criterion in approving or renewing applications for such designation or receiving and disbursing state funds." Striking this language allows the Virginia Department of Health to eliminate EMS Councils including TEMS without safeguarding the wellbeing of the citizens of the Commonwealth. It appears the basis for this change to the budget is a consultant's report provided by Fitch & Associates. Following the identified budget shortfall, Virginia Department of Health’s senior leadership paid an excessive amount of money for a consultant to generate a report on the Office of EMS. That report was discredited and disqualified by the Governor's own State EMS Advisory Board in a unanimous motion at their last meeting on November 15, 2024. The reports validity was questioned due to poor data quality and omissions. “The purpose of the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board is to advise the State Board of Health concerning the administration of the statewide emergency medical care system and emergency medical services vehicles maintained and operated to provide transportation to persons requiring emergency medical treatment, and reviewing and making recommendations on the Statewide Emergency Medical Services.” This 28-member Advisory Board represents all the EMS stakeholder groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia, appointed by the Governor to be the subject matter experts to ensure Virginia has a high-quality emergency medical services system. The renunciation of the Fitch Report by the Governor’s Advisory Board which was the catalyst for striking the current 2008 language should clearly illustrate that the EMS community is not supportive of the proposed language in HB1600 – Section 272 “E”. Tidewater EMS Council encourages an independent study from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) that can provide a fair evaluation of the Commonwealth’s EMS System and to make recommendations for the future.

The Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) has become an incredibly effective economic development tool and solution for localities, working in close partnership with the Commonwealth, to meaningfully increase the number of major sites ready for investments and job creation. The Commonwealth must use every possible avenue to remain competitive in this way. VBRSP is currently a vital part of bringing hundreds of industrial acres at the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport into a higher Tier status of readiness, with site characterization studies now in process under the program. These would not have been affordable without the VBRSP grant funding made available for this purpose. Please support the Governor's proposed amendment to the 2024-2026 Budget adding $50 million to the funding available for VBRSP grants.

We approve the Governors budget.

I would only like to submit that when considering funding regarding peer support services, and the Marcus Alert programs, please be mindful how critical these services are in the community. Marcus Alert is an important resource for citizens in need of services related to mental health concerns, and the programs allow for tiered responses to requests for assistance. These programs help to take some of the burden of responses away from already stressed law enforcement agencies. They also allow professionals to assess a situation before law enforcement or emergency services even arrive to a scene. Making sure that citizens know about Marcus Alert would provide confidence that community resources are working together to effect changes regarding mental health visibility. Peer services allow those in recovery and healing to provide experience and a guide to those receiving services and to those working with those in service. Peer Recovery Specialists are able to provide perspective that might not otherwise be provided, as they have lived through their own trauma, their own additions, their own mental health struggles, and/or have helped to provide support and care for others on the same journey.

Dear Members: I am writing in my capacity as the Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Virginia. We are a support organization for the 37 local Habitat affiliates across Virginia. Last year, the General Assembly approved a budget with a $5 million homeownership pilot program of downpayment assistance for families with incomes less than 60% of area median income. Habitat is the primary vehicle by which these families achieve homeownership in Virginia. Habitat affiliates asked for help last year and the General Assembly responded. Last year's budget called for the Dept of Housing and Community Development to produce program guidelines by last Dec. 1. They failed to do this. Now, we have learned that the Governor is seeking to rescind this $5m in the current session (Item 102N). It's particularly ironic that such an effort is being made days after the death of President Carter who was a champion of Habitat's work for the past 40 years. I urge you to reject the Governor's amendment, fully fund this pilot effort and compel DHCD to proceed with implementation.

Dear Members: I am writing in my capacity as the Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Virginia. We are a support organization for the 37 local Habitat affiliates across Virginia. Last year, the General Assembly approved a budget with a $5 million homeownership pilot program of downpayment assistance for families with incomes less than 60% of area median income. Habitat is the primary vehicle by which these families achieve homeownership in Virginia. Habitat affiliates asked for help last year and the General Assembly responded. Last year's budget called for the Dept of Housing and Community Development to produce program guidelines by last Dec. 1. They failed to do this. Now, we have learned that the Governor is seeking to rescind this $5m in the current session (Item 102N). It's particularly ironic that such an effort is being made days after the death of President Carter who was a champion of Habitat's work for the past 40 years. I urge you to reject the Governor's amendment, fully fund this pilot effort and compel DHCD to proceed with implementation.

I agree

I agree

We agree with the Governors to make our Commonwealth even more business-friendly by giving working Virginians tax relief. The state has billions in excess taxes accumulating from inflation, the Virginia Standard Deduction for those filing jointly should be increased to $25,000 and single filers to $12,750 and should be made permanent, we should get more of our hard-earned money back. We support eliminating the “car tax,” entirely but support the proposed tax credit to offset the cost for individuals earning under $50,000 per year and joint filers with under $100,000 in annual income until you can make that happen. We also support eliminating taxes on tips for Virginia’s service industry where by working hard and providing exceptional service, tips bring their salaries way above the minimum wage and you are hindering the industry by taxing it. While adding an additional $290 million new dollars in school construction is great, we would like to see the lottery revenue used as it was intended to supplement education not supplant the funds. We also support law enforcement and keeping our cities and counties safe by pulling back funding for any so-called “sanctuary cities” in Virginia, we should be helping ICE remove criminals from our streets.

I approve the governor's budget. Thanks so much.

I approve his budget

I strongly approve of the Governor's Proposed Budget and believe it is what's best for our State.

In 2024 Republican and Democrat lawmakers agreed that in was in the Commonwealth's best interest to invest resources assisting low-income, first-time home buyers to be able to purchase their own home. They approved $5 Million for a Pilot Program, for down payment assistance exclusively for buyers who earn less than 60% of Area Median Income. The Governor's budget for the 2025 session deletes this funding and this pilot program, even thought DHCD has already begun designing the program and has already sought and received public comment. We urge the members to now reject the governor's amendment to do away with this pilot program. In order to even qualify for a loan to purchase a home, people who earn a lower-income are incredibly disciplined and responsible spenders. They are ready for homeownership and the wealth-building opportunities it provides, yet lack the ability to save a down-payment and are priced-out of the market due to the rise of housing prices. This program enables them to afford the same opportunity as higher income earners, and protects the Commonwealth's investment thanks to affordability period. This is precisely the type of assistance all Virginians can get behind, because it is not a hand-out but instead helps those who are already helping themselves. We thank the 2024 General Assembly for believing in this program, and hope the 2025 members of Finance and Appropriations will reject the Governor's Amendment that strikes the program.

I approve

As the oldest serving Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Council, the Tidewater EMS Council (TEMS) has provided services to the Commonwealth for 50 Years (1974-2024). TEMS opposes the proposed language to eliminate “E” from Item 272 E – referencing EMS Council boundaries, and advocates to keep the current language from January 1, 2008, as part of the upcoming proposed budget. HB 1600 Section 272 "E" (listed below) is stricken from the Governor's Proposed Budget and TEMS with the support of our 10 local governments and 58 EMS Agencies does not support this budget change. TEMS recognizes that changes need to be made within the Office of EMS (OEMS) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) based on years of financial mismanagement; however, the changes should not negatively impact the current services that TEMS provides to support the 22nd and 23rd Planning Districts of Virginia. The Proposed Stricken Language is: "E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the Board of Health (BOH) shall not modify the geographic or designated service areas of designated regional emergency medical services councils in effect on January 1, 2008, or make such modifications a criterion in approving or renewing applications for such designation or receiving and disbursing state funds." Striking this language allows the VDH–OEMS to eliminate EMS Councils including TEMS without safeguarding the wellbeing of the citizens of the Commonwealth. It appears the basis for this change to the budget is a consultant's report provided by Fitch & Associates. Following the identified budget shortfall, VDH's senior leadership paid a consultant to generate a report on OEMS. That report was discredited and disqualified by the Governor's own State EMS Advisory Board in a unanimous motion at their last meeting on November 15, 2024. The reports validity was questioned due to poor data quality and omissions. This 28-member Advisory Board represents all the EMS stakeholder groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia, appointed by the Governor to be the subject matter experts to ensure Virginia has a high-quality emergency medical services system. The renunciation of the Fitch Report by the Governor’s Advisory Board should clearly illustrate that the EMS community is not supportive of the proposed language in HB1600 – Section 272 “E”. Developed initially around planning districts, the EMS Council service areas reflect the “REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM” that includes a multitude of stakeholders including EMS, hospital and healthcare systems, Long Term Care, Hospice, Dialysis Centers, Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, and fire departments. The regional EMS delivery systems address their unique challenges of geography, demographics, infrastructure, EMS staffing, medical resources, patient referral patterns, mutual aid, regional health determinants and identity. Their service area borders should not be manipulated to create a “specific number” or more easily or conveniently managed, funded, or administered areas. In 2008, VDH-OEMS attempted to reduce the number of EMS Councils, a move that was met with widespread opposition from local governments, EMS agencies, EMS providers, and citizens. TEMS encourages a truly independent study from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) that can provide a fair evaluation and make recommendations for the future of EMS delivery in the Commonwealth.

The GA’s advocacy & support of community services for individuals with Behavioral Health & Development Disabilities and CSBs in every community is appreciated. I share great concern regarding DMAS’ proposed changes to Targeted Case Management (TCM) for individuals with SMI/SED. An 18-day public comment period ends today for a proposal to overhaul what is known as “legacy” services & TCM. Expenditures for legacy services skyrocketed over several decades influenced by provider behavior & inconsistent service provision. We support the need for effective controls & provider accountability. However, vehemently oppose TCM lumped in for DMAS to exercise temporary authority granted by the GA to make changes if “budget neutral”. The absence of meaningful discussion or understanding of the role & benefit that TCM plays in every localities’ system of care & anticipated consequence of action is alarming. The speed of DMAS timeline to exercise this authority is dangerously rushed. TCM, provided only by CSBs, accountable to our local & state government, has enabled layers of oversight protecting the integrity of the service & consistently addressing system gaps for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens in all communities. It is illogical to believe substantial harm would not result as it would lessen financial resources of CSBs, who aggressively respond to new needs while addressing gaps resulting from policy decisions. This will constrain supports available for your communities as CSBs serve individuals regardless of ability to pay & contradicts GA investment in STEP-VA & the Governor’s “RHRN”. If believing it will lead to a “budget neutral” solution please consider: (1) The well-known escalating costs for the legacy services over several decades has been attributed to provider behavior & need for effective controls. (2) Any financial estimates made to address a “budget neutral” approach will be highly skewed as increasing Medicaid expenditures for legacy services have exceeded budgeted amounts year after year for decades connected to aforementioned provider behavior & questionable service delivery currently experienced with crisis services. (3) The TCM rate increase years ago aligned to offset a significant reduction of State General Funds (SGF) provided by DBHDS to CSBs ensure capability to safely function as the community safety net. Such action would have a great impact on underfunded CSBs who provide millions of dollars in uncompensated care & are actively working to address other mandates, including but not limited to STEP-VA. Recommended changes to TCM will impact CSBs & your constituents. Essentially, the community safety net would be adversely impacted by DMAS lumping in TCM to seek a “budget neutral” solution to address challenges resulting from decades of difficulty with the legacy service. This short-sited. TCM has been integral in CSBs weathering challenges as the community safety net over 50yrs often resulting from policy decisions, system failures & the lack of recognition for impending challenges. Including TCM fails to recognize how pivotal the lynchpin of services has been across every system of care in VA. Changing the model for TCM without accurate information or understanding of the repercussions to the system & most importantly individuals served would be a half-hazard approach for decision makers to take with dangerous consequences to our system that cannot be unwound

I am writing in support of Gov. Youngkin's budget proposals, specifically no tax on tips, ending the car tax and no to sanctuary cities. Please consider my opinion. I think the tax proposals are very helpful to low salary workers in the restaurant business and the removal of the car tax would be a huge benefit to retired people, such as myself. Sanctuary cities should be unlawful as they violate federal laws. Thank you for consideration.

Thank you governor for thinking about the hard working lower and middle class Virginian, very thoughtful and will definitely help both these classes financially because at the end of the day many of these hardworking families are struggling to make ends, it’s not a big chunk of help for commonwealth but it will definitely help Virginian , also me , my families and many supporters of yours are very proud of you about how you have taken steps to improve small business and their needs , thank you also for taking care of our school systems, we are in top of the list for best place to play , work and raise the family in entire nation , thank you and First Lady for your amazing contributions, happy new year and may God bless you and your families, Virginia is definitely for lover ❤️Virginia

I support the No taxes on tips, the car tax cut if extended to ALL folks, and not more sanctuary cities so riots, crime (especially rape, murder) are no longer a problem. Stealing jobs and housing isn't right either.

Hello I’ve watched my mother take care of friends and family because home care professionals was and still are getting under paid for what reason when you have resources. Nobody wants to put in dramatic work while being under paid and mistreated by DMAS.

Good morning legislators, I would like to ask the you support the Arc legislative agenda that will support the pilot program that would help 6 providers start more inclusive supports like the Hope House Foundation model and raise the medicaid reimbursement rates to providers that provide inclusive services like the Hope House Foundation model. Thank you for your time in this matter Miss Dorothy Clark

Peninsulas Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Council is against the proposed language to eliminate “E”. from Item 272 E – referencing EMS Council boundaries, and to keep the current language from January 1, 2008, as part of the upcoming proposed budget. HB 1600 Section 272 "E" listed below is stricken from the Governor's proposed budget and Peninsulas EMS Council with the support of our 16 local governments and 43 EMS Agencies does not support this budget change. We recognize changes need to be made to the Office of EMS, Virginia Department of Health based on their years of financial mismanagement, however the changes should not negatively impact the current services that Peninsulas EMS Council provides to support the 17th, 18th and Part of the 23rd Planning Districts of Virginia. Proposed Stricken Language "E. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the Board of Health shall not modify the geographic or designated service areas of designated regional emergency medical services councils in effect on January 1, 2008, or make such modifications a criterion in approving or renewing applications for such designation or receiving and disbursing state funds." Striking this language allows the Virginia Department of Health to eliminate EMS Councils including Peninsulas EMS Council without safeguarding the wellbeing of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The basis for this change is a consultant's report (Fitch Associates) that the Virginia Department of Health paid an excessive amount for that was discredited and disqualified by the Governor's own State EMS Advisory Board in a unanimous motion at their last meeting on November 15, 2024. “The purpose of the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board is to advise the State Board of Health concerning the administration of the statewide emergency medical care system and emergency medical services vehicles maintained and operated to provide transportation to persons requiring emergency medical treatment, and reviewing and making recommendations on the Statewide Emergency Medical Services.” This 28-member Advisory Board represents all the EMS stakeholder groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia, appointed by the Governor to be the subject matter experts to ensure Virginia has a high-quality emergency medical services system. The renunciation of the Fitch Report by the Governor’s Advisory Board which was the catalyst for striking the current 2008 language should clearly illustrate that the EMS community is not supportive of the proposed language in HB1600 – Section 272 “E”. Developed initially around planning districts, the EMS Council service areas reflect the regional EMS delivery systems developed to address their unique challenges of geography, demographics, infrastructure, EMS staffing, medical resources, patient referral patterns, mutual aid, regional health determinants and identity. Their service area borders should not be manipulated to create a “specific number” or more easily or conveniently managed, funded, or administered areas. In 2008, the Virginia Department of Health Office of EMS attempted to reduce the number of EMS Councils, a move that was met with widespread opposition from local governments, EMS agencies, EMS providers, and citizens. The Budget Amendment remains in place as a safeguard against attempts to reduce or modify them and underscores the importance of the EMS Councils and the strong support they have from the communities they serve.