BILL NUMBER: SB 997 CHAPTERED 09/25/08 CHAPTER 275 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 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.