BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 535
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 14, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   SB 535 (Nielsen) - As Amended:  April 17, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                             HealthVote:18-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill adds two members to the existing 18-member Commission  
          on Emergency Medical Services (Commission).  Specifically, the  
          bill adds:

          1)One air ambulance representative appointed by the Senate  
            Committee on Rules from a list of three names submitted by the  
            California Association of Air Medical Services.
          2)One representative from a public agency that provides air  
            rescue and transport, to be appointed by the Speaker of the  
            Assembly.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Annual costs to the Emergency Medical Services Authority of  
          around $2,000 (funded through a combination of GF, grants, and  
          fee revenue).  Members of the Commission receive no  
          compensation, but are reimbursed for their actual necessary  
          travel and other expenses.  
           
           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  . This bill aims to provide representation of air  
            ambulance providers on the Commission.  The author maintains  
            air ambulance providers should be adequately represented on  
            the Commission because the commission regularly reviews  
            regulations that affect these providers.  

           2)Background  . The Commission reviews and approves regulations,  
            standards, and guidelines developed by the Emergency Medical  
            Services Authority (EMSA).  In addition, the Commission  
            advises EMSA and makes recommendations on a number of  








                                                                  SB 535
                                                                  Page  2

            emergency medical services (EMS) issues.  The Commission meets  
            quarterly at various locations throughout the state.  Current  
            membership of the commission includes individuals representing  
            local EMS agencies, county health departments, firefighters,  
            Cal-FIRE, fire chiefs, hospitals, ambulance providers, and  
            emergency medical, nursing, and pre-hospital personnel, as  
            well as two public members. 

           3)Opposition  . The Emergency Medical Services Administrators  
            Association writes in opposition that creating two additional  
            positions to be filled specifically by air ambulance  
            representatives is disproportionate to their role within the  
            EMS system, and that the current membership adequately  
            represents the interests of pre-hospital EMS providers.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081