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By: Harris of Anderson, Anderson |
H.B. No. 624 |
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Morales of Maverick (Senate Sponsor - Birdwell) |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House April 3, 2023; |
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April 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health & |
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Human Services; May 4, 2023, reported favorably by the following |
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vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 4, 2023, sent to printer.) |
| Click here to see the committee vote |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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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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