DATE: June 22, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Interim Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Revenue Agreement with State Center Community College District
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive revenue Agreement with State Center Community College District for student education and training by the Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services Primary Paramedic Training Program, effective May 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, total not to exceed $210,000.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will continue the Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Primary Paramedic Training Program’s association with Fresno City College (FCC), a college of the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) for three years. The agreement allows the County to receive a portion of the state base instructional apportionment funds based on percentage of fees collected, during academic years 2021-22; 2022-23; 2023-24 at a rate of 58%, 59%, and 60% respectively. This enables the County to offset a portion of the cost for paramedic training and allows the County-provided training to be counted as college credits thru FCC. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should the Board not approve the recommended action, the Department’s EMS Primary Training Program would not be able to continue the relationship with FCC and receive student instruction hour fees. Students attending the County paramedic course would not be eligible for college credits and access to Fresno City College student resources.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Agreement is retroactive to May 1, 2021 due to SCCCD’s desire to coincide with class scheduling. Agreement negotiations began in December 2020, but SCCCD delayed its review and approval of the agreement language until late April 2021. This effective date will not have any impact on the County’s instruction or revenue.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Under the recommended agreement, revenues from FCC are estimated to be based on a percentage per year. FCC shall pay the County 58% in academic year 2021-2022, 59% in academic year 2022-2023, and 60% in academic year 2023-2024 of the state base apportionment earned based on eligible instructional full-time equivalent student hours. FCC receives a yearly budget to provide funding for the paramedic training program. Based on prior year enrollments, the Department estimates that revenue will total approximately $70,000 annually, which is dependent on the number of enrolled students and attendance hours. The combination of this revenue and revenue received from tuition paid by paramedic students fully offsets the County’s costs for providing these classes. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues have been included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2020-21 Adopted budget and will be included in future requested budgets for the duration of the term.
DISCUSSION:
The County Paramedic Training Program began in 1975. On January 8, 2002, the Board approved the original Agreement with the SCCCD, creating an affiliation between the Paramedic Training Program and FCC. The affiliation is beneficial to the County because it enables the Paramedic Training Program to meet California’s minimum requirements for accreditation in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program, provides college credits to the paramedic students, and allows student access to educational and financial assistance tools available at Fresno City College.
The EMS Division conducts two paramedic training classes each year and the length of each training class is approximately 11 months. Students in the program are eligible for 36 college units. The program includes 600 lecture hours, 200 clinical internship hours, and 480 field internship hours which satisfy California Health and Safety Code and California Code of Regulations requirements in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program. Each class averages 20 paramedic students.
The agreement with SCCCD differs from the County’s model contract in that it contains a mutual indemnification clause. This has the effect of making each party responsible for losses, costs, expenses, liabilities, damages, or claims arising from their own actions or inactions. The Department considers this to be an acceptable and minimal risk to the County.
This agreement can be terminated by either party with thirty days advance written notice. The proposed agreement with FCC will be effective May 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. At the request of FCC, they requested that the Agreement be effective as of May 1, 2021 to coincide with school class schedules. Additionally, because the proposed agreement is effective May 1, 2021, it supersedes the current agreement (Agreement No. 16-438) for paramedic training classes which terminates June 30, 2021.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #39, August 21, 2018
BAI #49, July 12, 2016
BAI #19, January 8, 2002
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with SCCCD
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander