PUBLIC LAW 107-251—OCT. 26, 2002 116 STAT. 1639 "SEC. 330J. RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TRAINING AND 42 USC 254c-15. EQUIPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. "(a) GRANTS.— The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (referred to in this section as the 'Secretary') shall award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to provide for improved emergency medical services in rural areas. "(b) ELIGIBILITY. —To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall— "(Dbe— "(A) a State emergency medical services office; "(B) a State emergency medical services association; "(C) a State office of rural health; "(D) a local government entity; "(E) a State or local ambulance provider; or "(F) any other entity determined appropriate by the Secretary; and "(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, that includes— "(A) a description of the activities to be carried out under the grant; and "(B) an assurance that the eligible entity will comply with the matching requirement of subsection (e). "(c) USE OF FUNDS.— An entity shall use amounts received under a grant made under subsection (a), either directly or through grants to emergency medical service squads that are located in, or that serve residents of, a nonmetropolitan statistical area, an area designated as a rural area by any law or regulation of a State, or a rural census tract of a metropolitan statistical area (as determined under the most recent Goldsmith Modification, originally published in a notice of availability of funds in the Federal Register on February 27, 1992, 57 Fed. Reg. 6725), to— "(1) recruit emergency medical service personnel; "(2) recruit volunteer emergency medical service personnel; "(3) train emergency medical service personnel in emergency response, injury prevention, safety awareness, and other topics relevant to the delivery of emergency medical services; "(4) fund specific training to meet Federal or State certification requirements; "(5) develop new ways to educate emergency health care providers through the use of technology-enhanced educational methods (such as distance learning); "(6) acquire emergency medical services equipment, including cardiac defibrillators; "(7) acquire personal protective equipment for emergency medical services personnel as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and "(8) educate the public concerning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, injury prevention, safety awareness, illness prevention, and other related emergency preparedness topics. "(d) PREFERENCE. — In awarding grants under this section the Secretary shall give preference to— "(1) applications that reflect a collaborative effort by 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection (b)(1); and
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