BILL NUMBER: AB 1272	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 12, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 6, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 23, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 13, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hill
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Ammiano)

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 1798.161 of, and to add Section 1797.259
to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1272, as amended, Hill. Emergency medical services: trauma
center: helicopter landing pad.
   Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and
Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act, establishes the
Emergency Medical Services Authority within the California Health and
Human Services Agency to, among other things, provide statewide
coordination of county emergency medical service programs, including,
but not limited to, designated trauma centers, and to administer the
Trauma Care Fund.
   This bill would require a local emergency medical service to
include within its trauma system plan the provision of air transport
of trauma patients to, and between, trauma centers, if the local
emergency medical service agency elects to implement a trauma system.
The bill would make conforming changes. 
   This bill would also prohibit a city, county, or city and county
from disapproving an application for a permit to build a heliport or
helipad upon the property of a general acute care hospital until
after the local EMS agency prepares a report that describes the
health and safety impacts of the heliport or helipad upon the local
area and surrounding region and the city council or board of
supervisors reviews this report.  
   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.  
   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:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 1797.259 is added to the Health and Safety
Code, immediately following Section 1797.258, to read:
   1797.259.   (a)    A local EMS agency that
elects to implement a trauma system shall include, within its trauma
system plan, provisions for air transport of trauma patients to, and
between, trauma centers. 
   (b) A city, county, or city and county shall not disapprove an
application for a permit to build a heliport or helipad upon the
property of a general acute care hospital until after the local EMS
agency prepares a report that describes the health and safety impacts
of the heliport or helipad upon the local area and surrounding
region and the city council or county board of directors reviews this
report in a public meeting. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 1798.161 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   1798.161.  (a)  The authority shall submit draft regulations
specifying minimum standards for the implementation of trauma care
systems to the commission on or before July 1, 1984, and shall adopt
the regulations on or before July 1, 1985. These regulations shall
provide specific requirements for the care of trauma cases and shall
ensure that the trauma care system is fully coordinated with all
elements of the existing emergency medical services system. The
regulations shall be adopted as provided in Section 1799.50, and
shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1)  Prehospital care management guidelines for triage and
transportation of trauma cases.
   (2) Transportation of trauma patients to, and between, trauma
centers by ground and air ambulance.
   (3) Flow patterns of trauma cases and geographic boundaries
regarding trauma and nontrauma cases.
   (4) The number and type of trauma cases necessary to assure that
trauma facilities will provide quality care to trauma cases referred
to them.
   (5) The resources and equipment needed by trauma facilities to
treat trauma cases.
   (6) The availability and qualifications of the health care
personnel, including physicians and surgeons, treating trauma cases
within a trauma facility.
   (7) Data collection regarding system operation and patient
outcome.
   (8) Periodic performance evaluation of the trauma system and its
components.
   (b) The authority may grant an exception to a portion of the
regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) upon substantiation
of need by a local EMS agency that, as defined in the regulations,
compliance with that requirement would not be in the best interests
of the persons served within the affected local EMS area.
   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.