SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5592

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Health & Long Term Care, February 18, 2019

Title: An act relating to personnel restrictions on ambulances in rural areas.

Brief Description: Easing ambulance restrictions in rural areas.

Sponsors: Senators Schoesler, Nguyen and Warnick.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/08/19, 2/18/19 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Randall, Vice Chair; O'Ban, Ranking Member; Bailey, Becker, Conway, Dhingra, Frockt, Keiser, Rivers and Van De Wege.

Staff: LeighBeth Merrick (786-7445)

Background: Ambulances. State law requires ambulances to operate with sufficient personnel to care for patients, which includes at least one emergency medical technician (EMT). EMTs have responsibility for the operation of the ambulance and for the care of the patient. EMTs are certified by the Department of Health (DOH) to render emergency medical care or, under the responsible supervision and direction of an approved medical program director, to participate in a community assistance referral and education services program.

Unless certain exemptions apply, ambulance drivers are required to have a first aid certificate recognized by DOH. Ambulance drivers that have at least two EMTs in attendance of the patient are not required to have a first aid certificate. Additionally, upon approval by DOH, an ambulance service established by volunteer or municipal corporations municipalities in a rural area with insufficient personnel, may use a driver without first aid training or medical training if the driver:

• is at least eighteen years old;

• passes a background check;

• possesses a valid driver's license with no restrictions;

• is accompanied by a nondriving EMT while operating the ambulance during a response or transporting a patient; and

• only provides medical care to patients to the level the driver is trained.

Certificate of First Aid. DOH must recognize a current certificate of advanced first aid qualification by those who show proof of advanced Red Cross training or its equivalent. Red Cross courses teach participants how to respond to common emergencies, including burns, cuts, and head and neck injuries. Training lasts from two to five hours and provides participants a two-year certification.

Summary of Bill: Upon approval by DOH, an ambulance service established by an association made up entirely of two or more municipalities in a rural area with insufficient personnel, may use a driver without any medical or first aid training if the driver:

• is at least eighteen years old;

• passes a background check;

• possesses a valid driver's license with no restrictions;

• is accompanied by a nondriving EMT while operating the ambulance during a response or transporting a patient; and

• only provides medical care to patients to the level the driver is trained.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: A state law was recently passed to allow rural ambulance service providers that do not have sufficient personnel to use drivers that do not have first aid or medical training. The law inadvertently did not include ambulance services established by two or more municipalities. This bill seeks to fix this so these ambulance services may continue to operate and not have to turn to other providers because their driver is not trained in first aid.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Mark Schoesler, Prime Sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.