BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1931 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Lorena Gonzalez, Chair AB 1931 (Rodriguez) - As Amended April 25, 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Health |Vote:|18 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill conforms guidelines for investigations and discipline of misconduct by Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic license holders (paramedics) to current requirements for Emergency Medical Technician-I and II (EMT-I and EMT-II) certificate AB 1931 Page 2 holders. In so doing, it requires Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) to promulgate regulations related to disciplinary oversight for paramedics. FISCAL EFFECT: Staff costs of $130,000 GF per year for two years to EMSA to promulgate regulations. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, California adopted a system for the coordinated oversight of EMT-Is and EMT-IIs in AB 2917 (Torrico), Chapter 274, Statutes of 2007. That same system of coordinated oversight does not apply to paramedics, and as a result, paramedics are often disciplined by multiple agencies and levels of government. The coordinated system made applicable to other EMTs nearly a decade ago does not apply to paramedics. The intent of this bill is to enact a disciplinary oversight system for California's paramedics that parallels the system currently applicable to other EMTs. 2)Background. The EMS system is a partnership between the state EMSA, county-based or regional local EMS agencies, and other entities such as ambulance providers, fire stations, and hospitals. EMSA currently licenses paramedics, but to work in the state, paramedics must also be accredited by the local EMS agency with jurisdiction in the county of employment. EMSA licensure requires education, practical skills, an exam, and a background check; local EMS agency accreditation ensures a paramedic is familiar with local policies, hospitals, and EMS AB 1931 Page 3 systems. Disciplinary action can occur at the local level, at the EMSA level, or at the employer level. 3)Prior Legislation. AB 1944 (Gatto) of 2012 provided paramedic employers increased authority over disciplinary investigations and actions for paramedics in their employment, and changed existing roles of EMSA and the local EMS agencies with regard to such investigations and actions. AB 1944 was held on the Suspense File of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Analysis Prepared by:Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081