Ambulance services may be provided — emergency, defined — election held when, procedure to call — additional tax levy, paramedic first responder program, amount — if tax levy fails, old levy to remain in effect

1. Fire protection districts in first class counties may, in addition to their other powers and duties, provide ambulance service within their district if a majority of the voters voting thereon approve a proposition to furnish such service and to levy a tax not to exceed thirty cents on the one hundred dollars assessed valuation to be used exclusively to supply funds for the operation of an emergency ambulance service. The district shall exercise the same powers and duties in operating an ambulance service as it does in operating its fire protection service. As used in this section "emergency" means a situation resulting from a sudden or unforeseen situation or occurrence that requires immediate action to save life or prevent suffering or disability. 2. The proposition to furnish ambulance service may be submitted by the board of directors at any municipal general, primary or general election or at any election of the members of the board or upon petition by five hundred voters of such district. 3. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: 4. If a majority of the voters casting votes thereon be in favor of ambulance service and the levy, the district shall forthwith commence such service. 5. In addition to all other taxes authorized on or before September 1, 1990, the board of directors of any fire protection district may, if a majority of the voters of the district voting thereon approve, levy an additional tax of not more than forty cents per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation to be used for the support of the ambulance service, or partial or complete support of a paramedic first responder program. The proposition to levy the tax authorized by this subsection may be submitted by the board of directors at the next annual election of the members of the board or at any regular municipal or school election conducted by the county clerk or board of election commissioners in such district or at a special election called for the purpose, or upon petition of five hundred registered voters of the district. A separate ballot containing the question shall read as follows: