BILL NUMBER: SB 997 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 19, 2008
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 13, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 8, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 19, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 28, 2008
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 26, 2007
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 9, 2007
INTRODUCED BY Senator Ridley-Thomas
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
An act to amend Sections 1797.82, 1799, and 1799.2 of the Health
and Safety Code, relating to emergency medical services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 997, Ridley-Thomas. Emergency medical services: certification
and licensure.
Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the
Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act, provides for the
certification of emergency medical technicians through the issuance
of certificates, including EMT-I and EMT-II certificates, by local
entities, known as local EMS agencies, which are designated by
counties. Under existing law, an Emergency Medical Technician II or
EMT-II is defined as an EMT-I with additional training in limited
advanced life support according to prescribed standards and who has a
validly issued certificate.
This bill would also define an EMT-I with the additional training
in limited advanced life support described above as an Advanced
Emergency Medical Technician or Advanced EMT.
Existing law requires the Commission on Emergency Medical
Services, which consists of 16 members, including an active member of
the California State Fireman's Association or the California
Professional Firefighters, to perform various duties regarding the
Emergency Medical Services Authority and emergency medical services.
The bill would revise the membership of the commission to include
18 members. The 2 additional members would include one person who is
employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and one
person who is employed by a city, county, or special district that
provides fire protection. The bill would provide that each of these
additional members are to be appointed by the Governor from lists of
3 names submitted by the California Professional Firefighters.
This bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent
upon the enactment of AB 2917 of the 2007-08 Regular Session.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) The State of California is dedicated to supporting emergency
preparedness efforts for all types of manmade and naturally occurring
disasters.
(b) It is a top priority to ensure the effectiveness of the state'
s emergency medical services (EMS) system in order to ensure the
public's health and safety in times of disaster.
(c) The Commission on Emergency Medical Services is charged with
providing advise and recommendation to the Emergency Medical Services
Authority, as well as reviewing and approving regulation, standards,
and guidelines developed by the authority, regarding the state's EMS
system.
(d) Among the most important assets in the state's EMS system are
the numerous types of personnel that are first responders in a
natural or manmade disaster.
(e) It is important that the membership of the commission
represents the broad variety of professionals that contribute to the
state's EMS system, including physicians, nurses, hospitals,
paramedics, emergency medical technicians, ambulance providers, local
health officials, law enforcement, and members of the public.
(f) The commission, along with the Emergency Medical Services
Authority, has a role to ensure a consistent statewide certification
and licensure process, standardized enforcement provisions, and due
process for disciplinary actions regarding the state's prehospital
personnel.
SEC. 2. Section 1797.82 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
1797.82. "Emergency Medical Technician-II," "EMT-II," "Advanced
Emergency Medical Technician," or "Advanced EMT" means an EMT-I with
additional training in limited advanced life support according to
standards prescribed by this part and who has a valid certificate
issued pursuant to this part.
SEC. 3. Section 1799 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1799. The Commission on Emergency Medical Services is hereby
created in the California Health and Human Services Agency.
SEC. 4. Section 1799.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to
read:
1799.2. The commission shall consist of 18 members appointed as
follows:
(a) One full-time physician and surgeon, whose primary practice is
emergency medicine, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules from
a list of three names submitted by the California Chapter of the
American College of Emergency Physicians.
(b) One physician and surgeon, who is a trauma surgeon, appointed
by the Speaker of the Assembly from a list of three names submitted
by the California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.
(c) One physician and surgeon appointed by the Senate Committee on
Rules from a list of three names submitted by the California Medical
Association.
(d) One county health officer appointed by the Governor from a
list of three names submitted by the California Conference of Local
Health Officers.
(e) One registered nurse, who is currently, or has been
previously, authorized as a mobile intensive care nurse and who is
knowledgeable in state emergency medical services programs and
issues, appointed by the Governor from a list of three names
submitted by the Emergency Nurses Association.
(f) One full-time paramedic or EMT-II, who is not employed as a
full-time peace officer, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules
from a list of three names submitted by the California Rescue and
Paramedic Association.
(g) One prehospital emergency medical service provider from the
private sector, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly from a list
of three names submitted by the California Ambulance Association.
(h) One management member of an entity providing fire protection
and prevention services appointed by the Governor from a list of
three names submitted by the California Fire Chiefs Association.
(i) One physician and surgeon who is board prepared or board
certified in the specialty of emergency medicine by the American
Board of Emergency Medicine and who is knowledgeable in state
emergency medical services programs and issues appointed by the
Speaker of the Assembly.
(j) One hospital administrator of a base hospital who is appointed
by the Governor from a list of three names submitted by the
California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.
(k) One full-time peace officer, who is either an EMT-II or a
paramedic, who is appointed by the Governor from a list of three
names submitted by the California Peace Officers Association.
() Two public members who have experience in local EMS policy
issues, at least one of whom resides in a rural area as defined by
the authority, and who are appointed by the Governor.
(m) One administrator from a local EMS agency appointed by the
Governor from a list of four names submitted by the Emergency Medical
Services Administrator's Association of California.
(n) One medical director of a local EMS agency who is an active
member of the Emergency Medical Directors Association of California
and who is appointed by the Governor.
(o) One person appointed by the Governor, who is an active member
of the California State Firemen's Association.
(p) One person who is employed by the Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection (CAL-FIRE) appointed by the Governor from a list of
three names submitted by the California Professional Firefighters.
(q) One person who is employed by a city, county, or special
district that provides fire protection appointed by the Governor from
a list of three names submitted by the California Professional
Firefighters.
SEC. 5. This act shall become operative only if Assembly Bill 2917
of the 2007-08 Regular Session is enacted and becomes effective on
or before January 1, 2009.