Amend CSHB 2085 by striking SECTION 19.03 of the bill (senate
committee printing, page 52, lines 17-32) and substituting the
following:
      SECTION 19.03. Section 773.0495, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
      Sec. 773.0495.  LICENSED PARAMEDIC QUALIFICATIONS. (a)  An
individual qualifies as a licensed paramedic if the individual
meets the requirements of Subsection (b)(1) or (2) and the
department determines that the individual is minimally proficient
to provide advanced life support that includes initiation under
medical supervision of certain procedures, including intravenous
therapy, endotracheal or esophageal intubation, electrical cardiac
defibrillation or cardioversion, and drug therapy.
      (b)  In addition to meeting the minimal proficiency
requirement prescribed by Subsection (a), to qualify as a licensed
paramedic an individual:
            (1)  must complete a curriculum that includes
college-level course work in accordance with rules adopted by the
board; or
            (2)  must:
                  (A)  hold on September 1, 1999, a certificate as
an emergency medical technician-paramedic;
                  (B)  have four years of field experience while
certified as an emergency medical technician-paramedic in providing
advanced life support care with an advanced life support emergency
service, as a volunteer or for compensation, for an average of at
least 20 hours per week; and
                  (C)  file with the department before March 1,
2000, an application for a certificate as a licensed paramedic on a
form prescribed by the department and pay an application fee of
$100 to the department.