SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6397

As of January 22, 2004

Title: An act relating to emergency medical service personnel.

Brief Description: Preventing persons who have stolen from being emergency medical service personnel.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit, Brandland, Kastama, Johnson, Rasmussen, Prentice, Murray and Pflug.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 1/28/04.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff: Tanya Karwaki (786-7447)

Background: Emergency medical service personnel are certified by the Department of Health as either first responders, emergency medical technicians, intermediate life support technicians, or paramedics.

The Uniform Disciplinary Act (UDA) applies to emergency medical service personnel. The Secretary of Health is the disciplinary authority for emergency medical service personnel charged with unprofessional conduct under the UDA. The actions the secretary is authorized to make upon a finding of unprofessional conduct include revocation of the license or suspension of the license.

Summary of Bill: Anyone convicted of theft from an ambulance or ambulance service licensed by the state is disqualified from being licensed as emergency medical service personnel. A person charged with theft from an ambulance or ambulance service is presumptively disqualified from being licensed as emergency medical service personnel. If presumptively disqualified, a person may appeal to the Secretary of Health and may be licensed upon a showing by the preponderance of the evidence that the person did not commit the act charged.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.