RD164 - Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services Trauma Fund Report on: Use of Funds in Improving Virginia’s Trauma System, and Review of Feasible Long Term Financing Mechanisms and Potential Funding Sources for Virginia’s Trauma Centers


Executive Summary:
In the 2004 General Assembly Session House Bill (HB) 1143 amended the Code of Virginia by adding section 18.2-270.01 which established the Trauma Center Fund for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This was the first step in addressing the challenges faced by Virginia’s Trauma Centers.

The legislation required that persons convicted of criminal violations for driving under the influence pursuant to §§ 18.2-36.1, 18.2-51.4, 18.2-266 or 46.2-341.24 (DUI), and who had also been previously convicted of one or more of these violations, pay a fine of $50 into the Trauma Center Fund.

HB 2664, enacted during the 2005 Legislative Session, required that before granting or restoring a license or registration to any person whose driver's license or other privilege to drive motor vehicles or privilege to register a motor vehicle has been revoked or suspended, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles must collect from that person a fee of $40 in addition to all other fees provided for in this section. The additional $40 fee must be paid into the Trauma Center Fund.

In 2006, language was added to the Appropriations Act specifying and requiring that the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (VDH/OEMS) report on the use of these funds in improving Virginia's Trauma System to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1 of each year.