Senate committee adopts amendment saying ambulances should be on-site at middle and high school football games when available
March 13, 2025 | 2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia
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The Senate committee agreed to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 477 that would require an ambulance, “if available,” to be present on school or event grounds during middle and high school football games under the control of the Secondary School Activities Commission.
The committee substitute was explained by counsel Hank, who told the panel: “It requires that an ambulance, if available, be present on school or event grounds during any middle or high school football games under the control of the Secondary School Activities Commission.”
Senators pressed on the bill’s practical effect. The senator from Taylor asked whether a game would have to pause if an ambulance were on site and then called away. Counsel said the phrasing “if available” meant that an ambulance called away would no longer be available. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment offered by the senator from Taylor clarifying that if an ambulance is called away on an emergency call, the game may continue.
Several senators said the measure is intended to highlight rural emergency medical services shortages rather than to create a new criminal or enforcement regime. The senator from Greenbrier, one of the bill sponsors, framed the bill as both a safety measure for students and a way to draw attention to long EMS response times in parts of West Virginia. Senators noted the bill contains no penalty for failing to have an ambulance on-site and described it as a statement of legislative intent coupled with an operational preference.
After discussion and adoption of the Taylor clarification, the vice chair moved that the committee substitute for Senate Bill 477 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, but first be referred under the double committee reference to the Committee on Finance. The motion was adopted by voice vote and the bill was reported to the full Senate under that referral sequence.
The committee record indicates the amendment and committee substitute were adopted by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
The committee substitute was explained by counsel Hank, who told the panel: “It requires that an ambulance, if available, be present on school or event grounds during any middle or high school football games under the control of the Secondary School Activities Commission.”
Senators pressed on the bill’s practical effect. The senator from Taylor asked whether a game would have to pause if an ambulance were on site and then called away. Counsel said the phrasing “if available” meant that an ambulance called away would no longer be available. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment offered by the senator from Taylor clarifying that if an ambulance is called away on an emergency call, the game may continue.
Several senators said the measure is intended to highlight rural emergency medical services shortages rather than to create a new criminal or enforcement regime. The senator from Greenbrier, one of the bill sponsors, framed the bill as both a safety measure for students and a way to draw attention to long EMS response times in parts of West Virginia. Senators noted the bill contains no penalty for failing to have an ambulance on-site and described it as a statement of legislative intent coupled with an operational preference.
After discussion and adoption of the Taylor clarification, the vice chair moved that the committee substitute for Senate Bill 477 be reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, but first be referred under the double committee reference to the Committee on Finance. The motion was adopted by voice vote and the bill was reported to the full Senate under that referral sequence.
The committee record indicates the amendment and committee substitute were adopted by voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
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