BILL NUMBER: AB 633	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 19, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Salas

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2013

   An act  to add Section 1799.103 to the Health and Safety Code,
  relating to  public health   emergency
medical services  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 633, as amended, Salas.  Public health: veterans access
to health care services.   Emergency medical services:
civil liability.  
   Under existing law, a person who, in good faith and not for
compensation, renders emergency medical or nonmedical care or
assistance at the scene of an emergency is not liable for civil
damages resulting from any act or omission, except as specified.
Existing law further provides that a person who has completed a basic
cardiopulmonary resuscitation course that complies with specified
standards, and who in good faith renders emergency cardiopulmonary
resuscitation at the scene of an emergency is not liable for any
civil damages as a result of any act or omission, except as
specified. Existing law provides that a health care provider,
including any licensed clinic, health dispensary, or health facility,
is not liable for professional negligence or malpractice for any
occurrence or result solely on the basis that the occurrence or
result was caused by the natural course of a disease or condition, or
was the natural or expected result of reasonable treatment rendered
for the disease or condition.  
   This bill would prohibit an employer from having a policy
precluding an employee from providing emergency medical services,
including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in
response to a medical emergency. The bill would provide that an
employer is not liable for any civil damages resulting from an act or
omission of its employee who, in good faith and not for
compensation, renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency.
 
    Existing law establishes the Office of Patient Advocate in the
California Health and Human Services Agency and requires the office
to provide assistance to and advocate on behalf of persons eligible
for health care coverage. Existing law requires that the goal of the
office be to help those individuals secure the health care services
to which they are entitled or for which they are eligible under the
law.  
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would facilitate the access by veterans to health
care coverage and health care services, including the delivery of
health care services via telehealth. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 1799.103 is added to the 
 Health and Safety Code   , to read:  
   1799.103.  (a) An employer shall not adopt or enforce a policy
precluding an employee from providing emergency medical services,
including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in
response to a medical emergency.
   (b) An employer shall not be liable for any civil damages
resulting from an act or omission of its employee who, in good faith
and not for compensation, renders emergency care at the scene of an
emergency.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would facilitate the access by veterans to
health care coverage and health care services, including the delivery
of health care services via telehealth.