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AN ACT
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relating to emergency medical transport by fire fighters of certain |
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patients. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 773, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0043 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 773.0043. FIRE FIGHTER EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS; |
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MEDICAL TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT OPERATING GUIDELINES. (a) In this |
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section, "fire fighter" means: |
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(1) an individual who is defined as fire protection |
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personnel under Section 419.021, Government Code; or |
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(2) an individual who is a volunteer fire fighter |
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certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the State |
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Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 773.041, a fire fighter, |
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regardless of whether the fire fighter is licensed as an emergency |
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medical services provider, may transport a sick or injured patient |
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to a health care facility in a vehicle other than an emergency |
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medical services vehicle if: |
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(1) the appropriate emergency medical services |
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provider: |
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(A) is notified of the patient's clinical |
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condition; and |
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(B) is unable to provide emergency medical |
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services imminently at the patient's location; and |
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(2) the medical treatment and transport operating |
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guidelines for the patient's apparent clinical condition authorize |
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transport of the patient in a vehicle other than an emergency |
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medical services vehicle. |
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(c) Each trauma service area regional advisory council |
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shall develop the medical treatment and transport operating |
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guidelines necessary to implement this section for the area served |
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by the council and provide notice of the guidelines to the emergency |
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medical services providers and fire fighters in that area. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2024, each trauma |
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service area regional advisory council shall develop medical |
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treatment and transport operating guidelines necessary to |
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implement Section 773.0043, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act, and provide notice of the guidelines to the emergency |
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medical services providers and fire fighters in the area. |
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SECTION 3. Section 773.0043, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to transportation provided on or |
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after January 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 624 was passed by the House on March |
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30, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 624 was passed by the Senate on May |
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10, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |