1-1 By: Barrientos S.B. No. 184
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 26, 1993; January 27, 1993,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human
1-4 Services; April 21, 1993, reported adversely, with favorable
1-5 Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0;
1-6 April 21, 1993, sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE VOTE
1-8 Yea Nay PNV Absent
1-9 Zaffirini x
1-10 Ellis x
1-11 Madla x
1-12 Moncrief x
1-13 Nelson x
1-14 Patterson x
1-15 Shelley x
1-16 Truan x
1-17 Wentworth x
1-18 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 184 By: Truan
1-19 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-20 AN ACT
1-21 relating to the regulation of certain air transfer vehicles and
1-22 staff as emergency medical services vehicles.
1-23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-24 SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 773.004, Health and
1-25 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-26 (a) This chapter does not apply to:
1-27 (1) a ground <or air> transfer vehicle and staff used
1-28 to transport a patient who is under a physician's care between
1-29 medical facilities or between a medical facility and a private
1-30 residence;
1-31 (2) ground or air transfer that does not advertise as
1-32 an ambulance service and that is not licensed by the department;
1-33 (3) the use of ground or air transfer vehicles to
1-34 transport sick or injured persons in a casualty situation that
1-35 exceeds the basic vehicular capacity or capability of emergency
1-36 medical services providers in the area;
1-37 (4) an industrial ambulance; or
1-38 (5) a physician, registered nurse, or other health
1-39 care practitioner licensed by this state unless the health care
1-40 practitioner staffs an emergency medical services vehicle
1-41 regularly.
1-42 SECTION 2. Section 773.045, Health and Safety Code, is
1-43 amended to read as follows:
1-44 Sec. 773.045. SPECIALIZED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VEHICLE
1-45 QUALIFICATIONS. (a) A vehicle, including a helicopter, boat,
1-46 fixed-wing aircraft, or ground vehicle, qualifies as a specialized
1-47 emergency medical services vehicle if it:
1-48 (1) is designed for transporting the sick or injured
1-49 by air, water, or ground transportation; and
1-50 (2) <is not a basic or advanced life-support emergency
1-51 medical services vehicle or a mobile intensive-care unit; and>
1-52 <(3)> has sufficient equipment and supplies to provide
1-53 for the specialized needs of the patient transported.
1-54 (b) A fixed-wing aircraft and staff used to transport a
1-55 patient by stretcher and that advertises as an air ambulance
1-56 service is required to be licensed by the department.
1-57 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
1-58 However, a person is not required to obtain a license required
1-59 under this Act until January 1, 1994.
1-60 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-61 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-62 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-63 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-64 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-65 * * * * *
1-66 Austin,
1-67 Texas
1-68 April 21, 1993
2-1 Hon. Bob Bullock
2-2 President of the Senate
2-3 Sir:
2-4 We, your Committee on Health and Human Services to which was
2-5 referred S.B. No. 184, have had the same under consideration, and I
2-6 am instructed to report it back to the Senate with the
2-7 recommendation that it do not pass, but that the Committee
2-8 Substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed.
2-9 Zaffirini,
2-10 Chair
2-11 * * * * *
2-12 WITNESSES
2-13 FOR AGAINST ON
2-14 ___________________________________________________________________
2-15 Name: Gene Weatherall x
2-16 Representing: Texas Dept. of Health
2-17 City: Austin
2-18 -------------------------------------------------------------------
2-19 Name: Dale Owens x
2-20 Representing: Air Ambulance America
2-21 City: Austin
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