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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to pediatric equipment and supplies for emergency medical |
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services vehicles and pediatric care training for emergency medical |
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services personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 773.050, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (f) and (g) and adding Subsection |
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(f-1) to read as follows: |
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(f) The executive commissioner shall recognize, prepare, or |
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administer continuing education programs for certified personnel. |
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A certificate holder must participate in the programs to the extent |
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required by Subsection (f-1) and the executive commissioner to |
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remain certified. |
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(f-1) Emergency medical services personnel must attend |
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continuing education training in the management and care of |
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pediatric patients, including pediatric patients with special |
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health care needs, that is provided by the department or by a |
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department-approved continuing education program for certified |
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emergency medical services personnel. The continuing education |
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training may include online courses. Emergency medical services |
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personnel must successfully complete hours of the continuing |
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education training every two years of the four-year certification |
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period as follows: |
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(1) one hour for emergency medical care attendants; |
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(2) two hours for emergency medical |
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technicians-basic; |
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(3) six hours for emergency medical |
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technicians-intermediate; and |
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(4) eight hours for emergency medical |
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technicians-paramedic. |
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(g) Rules adopting minimum standards under this section |
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shall require: |
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(1) an emergency medical services vehicle to be |
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equipped with: |
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(A) an epinephrine auto-injector device or |
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similar device to treat anaphylaxis; and |
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(B) essential pediatric equipment and supplies |
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for the vehicle as required under Section 773.173(a-1); and |
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(2) emergency medical services personnel to complete |
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continuing education training in: |
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(A) the administration of anaphylaxis treatment; |
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and |
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(B) the management and care of pediatric patients |
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as prescribed by Subsection (f-1). |
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SECTION 2. Section 773.173, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3)(B), the executive |
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commissioner by rule shall adopt minimum standards for essential |
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pediatric equipment and supplies required for an emergency medical |
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services vehicle and appropriate for the scope of practice |
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delegated by the medical director and consistent with the level of |
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care designation authorized for the vehicle. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), in adopting rules |
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under Subsection (a-1), the executive commissioner shall consider: |
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(1) the most current recommendations on pediatric |
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equipment and supplies for ambulances developed by a consensus of |
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national organizations of trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, |
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pediatricians, and emergency medical services physicians or |
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developed by members of a national pediatric equipment guidelines |
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committee; and |
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(2) the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine's |
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report "Emergency Care for Children: Growing Pains," 2007, or, as |
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determined appropriate by the executive commissioner, an updated |
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version of that report. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the |
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executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
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shall adopt the rules required by Sections 773.050(g), Health and |
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Safety Code, as amended by this Act, and 773.173(a-1), Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Sections 773.050(f) and (g), Health and |
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Safety Code, as amended by this Act: |
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(1) an emergency medical services provider is not |
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required to equip emergency medical services vehicles with the |
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pediatric equipment and supplies required under Section |
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773.173(a-1), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, until |
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September 1, 2012; and |
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(2) emergency medical services personnel are not |
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required to have completed continuing education training as |
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described by Sections 773.050(f-1) and (g)(2)(B), Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act, until September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |