83R12082 SCL-F

By: Cortez H.B. No. 3430

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the requirements and protocols for the use of nighttime triage equipment by emergency medical services personnel.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (18-a) to read as follows:

(18-a) "Nighttime triage equipment" means a multicolored illuminated tag with blue, green, red, and yellow lights that is reusable, water resistant to 30 feet, and able to provide a flashing and a solid light.

SECTION 2. Section 773.112(c), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The rules must include:

(1) prehospital care management guidelines for triage and transportation of trauma patients;

(2) flow patterns of trauma patients and geographic boundaries regarding trauma patients;

(3) assurances that trauma facilities will provide quality care to trauma patients referred to the facilities;

(4) minimum requirements for resources and equipment needed by a trauma facility to treat trauma patients;

(5) standards for the availability and qualifications of the health care personnel, including physicians and surgeons, treating trauma patients within a facility;

(6) requirements for data collection, including trauma incidence reporting, system operation, and patient outcome;

(7) requirements for periodic performance evaluation of the system and its components; [and]

(8) assurances that designated trauma facilities will not refuse to accept the transfer of a trauma patient from another facility solely because of the person's inability to pay for services or because of the person's age, sex, race, religion, or national origin; and

(9) minimum requirements for resources and equipment used by emergency medical services personnel to treat patients at night and during adverse conditions using nighttime triage equipment.

SECTION 3. Section 773.114(a), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Each emergency medical services and trauma care system must have:

(1) local or regional medical control for all field care and transportation, consistent with geographic and current communications capability;

(2) triage, transport, and transfer protocols, including protocols for the use of nighttime triage equipment at night and during adverse conditions; and

(3) one or more hospitals categorized according to trauma care capabilities using standards adopted by board rule.

SECTION 4. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 773.112(c), Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, not later than December 1, 2013.

(b) An emergency medical services and trauma care system is not required to have the nighttime triage equipment protocols required under Section 773.114(a)(2), Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, until January 1, 2014.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.