By: Harris of Anderson, Anderson H.B. No. 624
        Morales of Maverick (Senate Sponsor - Birdwell)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 3, 2023;
  April 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Health &
  Human Services; May 4, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 4, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to emergency medical transport by fire fighters of certain
  patients.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 773, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0043 to read as follows:
         Sec. 773.0043.  FIRE FIGHTER EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS;
  MEDICAL TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT OPERATING GUIDELINES.  (a)  In this
  section, "fire fighter" means:
               (1)  an individual who is defined as fire protection
  personnel under Section 419.021, Government Code; or
               (2)  an individual who is a volunteer fire fighter
  certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the State
  Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 773.041, a fire fighter,
  regardless of whether the fire fighter is licensed as an emergency
  medical services provider, may transport a sick or injured patient
  to a health care facility in a vehicle other than an emergency
  medical services vehicle if:
               (1)  the appropriate emergency medical services
  provider:
                     (A)  is notified of the patient's clinical
  condition; and
                     (B)  is unable to provide emergency medical
  services imminently at the patient's location; and
               (2)  the medical treatment and transport operating
  guidelines for the patient's apparent clinical condition authorize
  transport of the patient in a vehicle other than an emergency
  medical services vehicle.
         (c)  Each trauma service area regional advisory council
  shall develop the medical treatment and transport operating
  guidelines necessary to implement this section for the area served
  by the council and provide notice of the guidelines to the emergency
  medical services providers and fire fighters in that area.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2024, each trauma
  service area regional advisory council shall develop medical
  treatment and transport operating guidelines necessary to
  implement Section 773.0043, Health and Safety Code, as added by
  this Act, and provide notice of the guidelines to the emergency
  medical services providers and fire fighters in the area.
         SECTION 3.  Section 773.0043, Health and Safety Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to transportation provided on or
  after January 1, 2024.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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