HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5900
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to creating a provisional certification for emergency medical services providers under chapters 18.71 and 18.73 RCW.
Brief Description: Creating a provisional certification for emergency medical services providers under chapters 18.71 and 18.73 RCW.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Van De Wege, Keiser, Conway, Hasegawa, Lovick, Randall and Salda?a).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 2/21/22, 2/23/22 [DP].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Creates a provisional emergency services provider certification.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 15 members:Representatives Cody, Chair; Bateman, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bronoske, Davis, Harris, Macri, Maycumber, Riccelli, Rude, Simmons, Stonier, Tharinger and Ybarra.
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:

There are several types of emergency services providers licensed by the Department of Health, including emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, and paramedics.  Applicants for certification as emergency services providers must meet minimum education and training requirements and be recommended for certification by the physician medical program director of the county in which the applicant will be working.  Applicants must also be associated with a licensed aid or ambulance service, a law enforcement agency, a business with an organized industrial safety team, or senior emergency medical services instructors or coordinators teaching at emergency service training programs who are unable to be associated with another approved entity.
Summary of Bill:

A provisional emergency services provider certification is created to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH).  To be eligible for a provisional emergency services provider certification, an applicant must:

  • be currently licensed or certified in another state and be in good standing with the emergency medical services (EMS) board of that state or hold a current EMS provider certification from a national certifying agency approved by the DOH;
  • be employed or have a valid employment offer from a Washington EMS agency; and
  • be approved for provisional status from the medical program director of the county in which the applicant is or will be employed.

 
The number of persons holding a provisional emergency services provider certification an employer or host agency may employ is limited as follows:

  • If the employer or host agency has fewer than 25 employees holding an emergency medical technician or paramedic credential, up to 20 percent of those employees, rounded up to the next whole number, may participate under a provisional emergency services provider certification.
  • If the employer or host agency has 25 or more employees holding an emergency medical technician or paramedic credential, up to 10 percent of those employees, rounded up to the next whole number, may participate under a provisional emergency services provider certification.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill creates a provisional license for emergency services providers.  First responders have been part of the great resignation and employers are having a difficult time maintaining their workforce, particularly during the pandemic.  Emergency services providers not only respond to 911 calls, but also transfer patients between facilities.  Delays in these transfers can create bottlenecks that result in patients not being able to find beds.  Washington is a great place to work for emergency responders who want to laterally transfer here.  These providers face delays in getting certified, however.  This bill will streamline the process and get providers from other states certified in a timely fashion.  

 

(Opposed) None. 
Persons Testifying: Senator Kevin Van De Wege, prime sponsor; Chris Clem, Olympic Ambulance; Paul Priest, Washington Ambulance Association and American Medical Response; Steve Wright, Washington Fire Chiefs; and Bud Sizemore, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.