By: Barrientos S.B. No. 184
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the regulation of certain air transfer vehicles and
1-2 staff as emergency medical services vehicles.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 773.004, Health and
1-5 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) This chapter does not apply to:
1-7 (1) a ground <or air> transfer vehicle and staff used
1-8 to transport a patient who is under a physician's care between
1-9 medical facilities or between a medical facility and a private
1-10 residence;
1-11 (2) ground or air transfer that does not advertise as
1-12 an ambulance service and that is not licensed by the department;
1-13 (3) the use of ground or air transfer vehicles to
1-14 transport sick or injured persons in a casualty situation that
1-15 exceeds the basic vehicular capacity or capability of emergency
1-16 medical services providers in the area;
1-17 (4) an industrial ambulance; or
1-18 (5) a physician, registered nurse, or other health
1-19 care practitioner licensed by this state unless the health care
1-20 practitioner staffs an emergency medical services vehicle
1-21 regularly.
1-22 SECTION 2. Section 773.045, Health and Safety Code, is
1-23 amended to read as follows:
1-24 Sec. 773.045. SPECIALIZED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLE
2-1 QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A vehicle, including a helicopter, boat,
2-2 fixed-wing aircraft, or ground vehicle, qualifies as a specialized
2-3 emergency medical services vehicle if it:
2-4 (1) is designed for transporting the sick or injured
2-5 by air, water, or ground transportation; and
2-6 (2) <is not a basic or advanced life-support emergency
2-7 medical services vehicle or a mobile intensive-care unit; and>
2-8 <(3)> has sufficient equipment and supplies to provide
2-9 for the specialized needs of the patient transported.
2-10 (b) A fixed-wing aircraft and staff used to transport a
2-11 patient by stretcher and that advertises as an air ambulance
2-12 service is required to be licensed by the department.
2-13 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
2-14 However, a person is not required to obtain a license required
2-15 under this Act until January 1, 1994.
2-16 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.