BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 704
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 704 (Blumenfield and Fong)
As Amended July 1, 2013
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |75-0 |(May 9, 2013) |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 26, |
| | | | | |2013) |
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| |78-0 |(September 6, | | | |
| | |2013) | | | |
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|ASSEMBLY: | | | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: B., P. & C. P.
SUMMARY : Requires the Emergency Medical Services Authority
(EMSA) to adopt regulations by January 1, 2015, to accept the
military education, training, and practical experience of
applicants, as specified, towards certification as an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT)-I and EMT-II, and towards licensure as
an EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P). Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the EMSA to develop and adopt regulations by January
1, 2015, to accept, upon presentation of satisfactory
evidence, the military education, training, and experience for
applicants as a member of the United States (U.S.) Armed
Forces, the U.S. Military Reserve, the National Guard of any
state, or the Naval Militia of any state, towards meeting
requirements for the EMT-I certificate, the EMT-II
certificate, and the EMT-P license.
2)Requires the EMSA, in developing the regulations, to deem an
applicant for EMT-II certification with military experience
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equivalent to EMT-I certification requirements as
EMT-I-certified, unless the EMSA determines that the military
education, training, or practical experience is not
sufficiently comparable to existing standards.
3)Prohibits the EMSA, in developing the regulations, from
requiring an applicant for EMT-P licensure with military
experience equivalent to relevant coursework to complete
duplicative requirements, unless the EMSA determines that the
military education, training, or practical experience is not
sufficiently comparable to existing standards.
The Senate amendments :
1)Require EMSA to develop and adopt regulations by January 1,
2015, to accept the education, training, and practical
experience completed by an applicant as a member of the U.S.
Armed Forces, the U.S. Military Reserve, the National Guard of
any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the
qualifications and requirements for EMT-I certification upon
presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant.
2)Require EMSA to develop and adopt regulations by January 1,
2015, to accept the education, training, and practical
experience completed by an applicant as a member of the U.S.
Armed Forces, the U.S. Military Reserve, the National Guard of
any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the
qualifications and requirements for EMT-II certification upon
presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant. States
that, in developing the regulations pursuant to this
subdivision, EMSA shall deem an applicant for EMT-II
certification with military experience equivalent to EMT-I
certification requirements as certified as an EMT-I unless
EMSA determines that the education, training, or practical
experience is not sufficiently comparable to existing
standards.
3)Require EMSA to develop and adopt regulations by January 1,
2015, to accept the education, training, and practical
experience completed by an applicant as a member of the U.S.
Armed Forces, the U.S. Military Reserve, the National Guard of
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any state, or the Naval Militia of any state toward the
qualifications and requirements for EMT-P licensure upon
presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant for
EMT-P licensure. In developing the regulations pursuant to
this subdivision, EMSA shall not require an applicant for
EMT-P licensure with military experience equivalent to
relevant coursework to complete duplicative requirements
unless EMSA determines that the education, training, or
practical experience is not sufficiently comparable to
existing standards.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, ongoing costs of about $100,000 for the Emergency
Medical Services Authority to develop and adopt regulations and
to assist with ongoing certification and licensing of emergency
medical technicians by the Authority and local governments
(Emergency Medical Services Personnel Fund and EMT Certification
Fund).
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of this bill . This bill would require EMSA to adopt
regulations requiring local EMS agencies to accept documented
military education, training, and experience towards the
issuance of EMT certifications and paramedic licenses in
California. While current law provides a process for
considering military experience in meeting certain EMT
requirements, each local EMS agency has broad discretion to
waive training requirements on a case-by-case basis. This
bill aims to establish a uniform statewide policy for
accepting military education, training, and experience towards
EMT certification and paramedic licenses in order to spare
veteran applicants the uncertainty and the potential time and
expense of completing duplicative EMT training requirements.
This bill is author sponsored.
2)Federal report on streamlining licensure for military medics .
In February 2013, the Executive Office of the President of the
United States issued a report entitled, "The Fast Track to
Civilian Employment: Streamlining Credentialing and Licensing
for Service Members, Veterans, and their Spouses" (the "EOP
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report"). The report highlights how veterans have
difficulties translating their military experience into
civilian certification and licensure, and exhorts states to
capitalize on the public resources spent training servicemen
and women. The EOP report argues that the need for action is
immediate, as more veterans are expected to return to the U.S.
with the ongoing withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. There
is also increasing civilian demand for these skills, as the
report states that "In 2012, there were slightly more than
75,000 Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve members in healthcare
support occupations, and last year nearly 10,000 separated
from the military. The [U.S.] Department of Labor estimates
that, by 2020, the demand for EMTs/Paramedics will increase
33%."
The report further contends that "Military education,
training, and experience are not always recognized by state
licensing agencies or by the organizations that administer the
related certifications or exams, making it difficult for
service members and veterans to qualify for the credentials
they need for professional positions. Challenges include the
absence of common standards for service credentialing
programs, inconsistent state laws, and a lack of understanding
about how military training and experience translates into
licensing and academic credits."
3)EMT Certification and Paramedic Licensure . There are
currently 60,000 EMTs and 19,000 paramedics in California.
The EMS system and EMTs are the "first responders," usually
activated by a 9-1-1 call, who stabilize and transport
individuals to a medical facility for treatment.
This bill applies to two types of EMT certifications (EMT-I
and EMT-II) and one type of paramedic license (commonly
referred to as EMT-P). There are some notable differences
between the certifications and the license:
a) In California, EMT-I and EMT-IIs are certified by one of
the 32 local (single- or multi-county) EMS agencies. The
local EMS agency reviews an applicant's documentation,
including his or her course completion record, out-of-state
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certification, and National Registry card, to determine
whether or not he or she meets state and local
requirements. Local EMS agencies have broad discretion in
accepting or denying an EMT applicant, and in determining
whether or not it will accept military experience towards
certification.
b) EMT-Ps (or paramedic licenses), are issued by the EMSA
and then accredited by a local EMS agency to work in a
county once the paramedic is sponsored by a local advanced
life support provider/employer.
4)Acceptance of military experience towards EMT certification .
Currently, there are two pathways for veterans to count
military experience towards EMT certification:
a) National Registry of EMTs . The National Registry of
EMTs is a nationwide certification agency with uniform
standards for training and examination of personnel
delivering emergency ambulance services. An individual
must complete an approved U.S. Department of Transportation
(U.S. DOT) training program, be cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)-certified, and pass a practical and
skills examination in order to receive a National Registry
card.
The National Registry of EMTs provides certification in
four EMT classifications: Basic, Intermediate-85,
Intermediate-99, and Paramedic. California offers EMT
certification by endorsement to out-of-state applicants
holding a National Registry card and seeking certification
in the state. This provision would therefore apply to
military members who hold a National Registry card.
Currently, the U.S. Army is the only branch of the U.S.
Armed Forces that requires all of its military medics to
obtain a National Registry card. According to the EOP
report, "?medics in the Army are required to pass the EMT
national certification at the conclusion of their technical
training in the health sciences and maintain the
certification while they remain in that military
occupational specialty. Air Force medics may take the exam
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but are not required to pass it."
b) Waiver from training requirements . Existing state
regulations allow a military veteran applying for EMT
certification within two years of leaving military service
to seek a waiver from training requirements. A local EMS
agency would review the applicant's military transcripts to
determine whether the military coursework is equivalent to
the accepted standard of the U.S. DOT training course. If
the local EMS agency determines that the military
experience is equivalent, the applicant is exempt from
taking an approved U.S. DOT training course.
Unless an individual holds a current National Registry
EMT-Basic card, the applicant must take a written and
skills examination and possible additional training
specified by the local EMS agency. Therefore, a military
veteran from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces other than
the Army may still need to complete additional training and
examination requirements as determined by the local EMS
agency.
Currently, there are no laws or regulations requiring EMSA
to accept military education, training, or experience for
the paramedic license.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
Assembly Bill 704 would require the Emergency Medical
Services Authority to adopt regulations to accept U.S.
military experience and training toward the
qualifications and prerequisites for emergency medical
technician and paramedic certifications.
Current regulations already allow most military
experience and training to count; and where there may
be a discrepancy, the regulations allow an individual
to petition they be accepted, or complete additional
courses or training prior to testing for
certification.
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I strongly support efforts to adapt the skills and
training veterans have acquired in the military to a
civilian environment. Rather than signing this bill,
however, I will direct the Emergency Medical Services
Authority to act within its administrative authority
to clarify the process for making prior experience
count, without the cumbersome or overlong process that
regulations would entail.
This will ensure that all veterans have the
information they need - sooner rather than later - to
apply proper credit for their military experience
toward their desired certifications.
Analysis Prepared by: Sarah Huchel / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0002902