1-1  By:  Harris (Senate Sponsor - Madla)                  H.B. No. 1145
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House April 21, 1995;
    1-3  April 24, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
    1-4  and Human Services; May 23, 1995, reported adversely, with
    1-5  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays
    1-6  0; May 23, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-7  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1145                   By:  Madla
    1-8                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-9                                AN ACT
   1-10  relating to certification of certain emergency medical personnel.
   1-11        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-12        SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
   1-13  Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0551 to read as follows:
   1-14        Sec. 773.0551.  PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE.  (a)  The department
   1-15  may issue a provisional certificate to a person who:
   1-16              (1)  has not taken the examination for certification;
   1-17  and
   1-18              (2)  possesses the qualifications for provisional
   1-19  certification required by rules adopted by the board.
   1-20        (b)  A person who holds a provisional certificate may only
   1-21  provide emergency medical services permitted under rules adopted by
   1-22  the board.
   1-23        (c)  A provisional certificate is valid until the earlier of:
   1-24              (1)  the date on which the holder receives a
   1-25  certificate under Section 773.055(e); or
   1-26              (2)  the date on which the holder receives notice of
   1-27  failure of the holder's examination for certification.
   1-28        SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
   1-29  Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0552 to read as follows:
   1-30        Sec. 773.0552.  CERTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL
   1-31  DISPATCHERS.  (a)  The department shall provide for the voluntary
   1-32  certification of emergency medical dispatchers.
   1-33        (b)  The board by rule shall establish minimum standards for
   1-34  certification as an  emergency medical dispatcher.
   1-35        (c)  A nonrefundable fee of $25 must accompany each
   1-36  application for certification as an emergency medical dispatcher.
   1-37        (d)  The department shall issue a certificate to an emergency
   1-38  medical dispatcher who meets the minimum standards for
   1-39  certification adopted under this section.  A certificate is valid
   1-40  for four years after the date of issuance.
   1-41        (e)  The department shall charge a fee of $5 to replace a
   1-42  lost or stolen certificate.
   1-43        (f)  This section does not require an emergency medical
   1-44  dispatcher to be certified.
   1-45        (g)  In this section, "emergency medical dispatcher" means an
   1-46  individual who:
   1-47              (1)  provides authorized prearrival instructions to an
   1-48  emergency caller on a telecommunications system; and
   1-49              (2)  may dispatch emergency response personnel and
   1-50  equipment.
   1-51        SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-52        (b)  The Texas Board of Health shall adopt rules under this
   1-53  Act not later than December 31, 1995.
   1-54        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-55  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-56  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-57  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-58  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   1-59                               * * * * *