84R26153 SCL-D
 
  By: Martinez, Springer, Guillen H.B. No. 2020
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the scope of duties of an emergency medical
  technician-paramedic and a licensed paramedic.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0496 to read as follows:
         Sec. 773.0496.  SCOPE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL
  TECHNICIAN-PARAMEDIC AND LICENSED PARAMEDIC DUTIES. (a)  In this
  section:
               (1)  "Advanced life support" means health care provided
  to sustain life in an emergency, life-threatening situation. The
  term includes the initiation of intravenous therapy, endotracheal
  or esophageal intubation, electrical cardiac defibrillation or
  cardioversion, and drug therapy procedures.
               (2)  "Direct supervision" means supervision of an
  emergency medical technician-paramedic or licensed paramedic by a
  licensed physician who is present in the same area or an area
  adjacent to the area where an emergency medical
  technician-paramedic or licensed paramedic performs a procedure
  and who is immediately available to provide assistance and
  direction during the performance of the procedure.
         (b)  Notwithstanding other law, a person who is certified
  under this chapter as an emergency medical technician-paramedic or
  a licensed paramedic, is acting under the delegation and direct
  supervision of a licensed physician, and is authorized to provide
  advanced life support by a health care facility may in accordance
  with department rules provide advanced life support in the
  facility's emergency or urgent care clinical setting, including a
  hospital emergency room and a freestanding emergency medical care
  facility.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall adopt any rules necessary to implement
  Section 773.0496, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.