Brief Description: Describing specialized commercial vehicles used for patient transportation.

Sponsors: By Representatives Newhouse, Cody, Clements, Bailey, Roach, Morrell, Lovick, Simpson, Murray, Chase, Kagi and Wallace.

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

Ambulance services are licensed by the Department of Health. Ambulance personnel requirements include at least one person who must be an emergency medical technician under standards of the Department of Health.

State law requires that patients who must be carried on a stretcher or who may require medical attention must be transported in ambulances or aid vehicles operated by services licensed by the Department of Health.

For-hire vehicles are licensed by the Department of Licensing. Local governments may regulate the services of for-hire vehicles, which include stretcher vans and cabulances.

Summary:

A stretcher is defined as a cart commonly used in the ambulance industry for transporting patients in a prone or supine position. The term does not include personal mobility aids that recline at an angle or remain in a flat position that are owned or leased for at least one week by the individual being transported.

People who use a personal mobility aid may be transported by stretcher vans or cabulances.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   1
Senate   45   1

Effective: July 24, 2005