BILL NUMBER: AB 210	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Solorio

                        JANUARY 31, 2011

   An act to amend Section 1797.270 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to emergency medical services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 210, as introduced, Solorio. Emergency medical services.
   Existing law establishes the Emergency Medical Services System and
the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act, which governs
local emergency medical service systems. The act authorizes the
establishment of an emergency medical care committee in each county
and requires the committee to annually review ambulance services
operating within the county, emergency medical care offered within
the county, and first aid practices in the county. The act also
requires the committee to report its observations and recommendations
relative to this review to the Emergency Medical Services Authority,
and the local EMS agency.
   This bill would require the establishment of an emergency medical
care committee in each county. By increasing the duties of local
officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Emergency medical services (EMS) system coordination remains
the key factor in efficiently delivering the highest level of
prehospital patient care and emergency transport.
   (b) All providers and stakeholders in the EMS delivery system must
be guided by consistent, clear standards regarding their rights,
responsibilities, and duties arising out of the provision of
prehospital emergency medical care to their respective communities.
   (c) Agencies responsible for developing and maintaining a local
emergency medical services plan must be guided by and responsive to
reasonable and consistent standards for evaluating and determining
the scope, manner, and types of services provided within their
respective jurisdictions, particularly when making determinations
regarding exclusive operating areas and the concomitant rights under
Section 1797.201 of the Health and Safety Code.
   (d) Over 20 years of litigation magnifies the need for further
statutory guidance to ensure that the California EMS community
continues its focus on its primary mission, providing excellent care
to the citizens they serve.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1797.270 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   1797.270.  An emergency medical care committee  may
  shall  be established in each county in this
state. Nothing in this division should be construed to prevent two or
more adjacent counties from establishing a single committee for
review of emergency medical care in these counties.
  SEC. 3.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.