SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6444
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Transportation, January 31, 2002
Title: An act relating to the licensing of stretcher van‑type vehicles for transporting passengers on stretchers.
Brief Description: Licensing vehicles transporting persons on stretchers.
Sponsors: Senators Gardner, Prentice, McDonald, Oke, Deccio, Rasmussen, Regala and Horn.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/24/02, 1/31/02 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6444 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Kastama, Keiser, Oke, Prentice, T. Sheldon and Shin.
Staff: Michael Groesch (786‑7434)
Background: Current state law requires that patients who must be carried on a stretcher or who may require medical attention be transported in ambulances or aid vehicles operated by services licensed by the Department of Health. Ambulance personnel requirements include at least one person who shall be an emergency medical technician under standards of the Department of Health.
Summary of Substitute Bill: Vehicles other than ambulances and aid vehicles may not transport patients who must be carried on a stretcher for purposes of medical care or who may require medical attention in route. The Department of Health in conjunction with the Department of Licensing must define by rule the requirements of transporting persons who travel in a prone or supine position.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill reinstates the prohibition against transporting persons on a stretcher by vehicles other than ambulances or aid vehicles but clarifies that the prohibition applies to persons who require medical care. The lead agency in the development of rules to assure the safety and health of persons who travel in a prone or supine position is changed from the Department of Licensing to the Department of Health.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 20, 2002.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The bill provides significant cost savings to patients and governmental entities that pay for the transportation patients who do not need medical care. Healthy people who need to travel by stretcher will benefit by allowing for alternative transportation. Customer choice is prohibited by current statute.
Testimony Against: The definition of medical attention needs better definition. Alternative transportation is not regulated. Medically stable people may become critical care patients during transport.
Testified: PRO: Don Chartock, Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation; Janet Griffith, Department of Health; Rick Maesner, Transpro Inc. CON: Kelly Fox, Washington State Council of Firefighters; Bob Berschaner, Washington Ambulance Association; Susie Tracy, American Medical Response.