BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 521

                                                                                                                                           By: Madla

                                                                                                                                      Public Health

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, vehicles used to transport patients between medical facilities or between a private residence and a medical facility are exempted from regulation by the Department of State Health Services because they are not considered ambulances. These vehicles are not staffed by licensed or certified emergency services personnel; nor do they have equipment for medical emergencies.  The purpose of this bill is to ensure that vehicles carrying patients who are confined to a stretcher are licensed as ambulances. This bill continues to exempt taxis and other vehicles that carry ambulatory patients and those who can use a wheelchair between medical facilities or between their private residences and a medical facility.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

The bill eliminates the exemption from licensing for ground vehicles if the patient to be transported must be transported using a stretcher and does not exempt a ground transfer vehicle and staff used to transport a patient who is under a physician's care between medical facilities or between a medical facility and a private residence if it is medically necessary to transport the patient using a stretcher.

 

The bill requires that all emergency medical services providers qualified as a basic life-support emergency medical services provider be capable of providing emergency and nonemergency transportation.

 

The bill requires, in addition to any other qualifications, all emergency medical services providers must possess the qualifications required for basic emergency medical services providers.

 

The bill provides that a person or vehicle that becomes subject to this legislation is not required to comply with the changes under this law until January 1, 2006. In addition, states that anyone currently licensed under this law does not need to meet the new requirements until they renew their license.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2005.