2019 -- S 0951

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LC002756

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION

SERVICES

     Introduced By: Senators Conley, Lombardo, Ciccone, Lombardi, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: June 05, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 23-4.1-2 and 23-4.1-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-4.1

entitled "Emergency Medical Transportation Services" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-4.1-2. Ambulance service coordinating advisory board.

     (a) The ambulance service coordinating advisory board is hereby created and shall consist

of twenty-five (25) members appointed as set out in this section. The governor shall appoint the

members of the board as follows: (1) Two (2) from the department of health municipal officials,

including, but not limited to, mayors, town administrators, and town managers, one of whom

shall be recommended by the president of the senate, and one of whom shall be recommended by

the speaker of the house; (2) Seven (7) practicing, licensed emergency medical technicians as

follows: three (3) from a full-time, paid department, who shall be recommended from the Rhode

Island State Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF, AFL-CIO; two (2) who are active E.M.S.

administrators, one recommended by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs and one

recommended by the Rhode Island State Firemen's League from a volunteer fire department; one

recommended by the senate president; and one recommended by the speaker of the house; (3)

One from the R.I. Hospital Association; (4) One from the R.I. Medical Society; (5) One from the

R.I. chapter of the American College of Surgeons, committee on trauma; (6) One from the R.I.

chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians; (7) One from the Rhode Island

chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; (8) Two (2) from a professional ambulance

service; (9) Two (2) from the general public; (10) Two (2) from Providence county who are

active members of a public ambulance service or fire department rescue squad unit, one from a

full-time paid department and one from a volunteer department; (11) Four (4), one each from the

counties of Kent, Newport, Bristol, and Washington, who shall be members of a public

ambulance service or a fire department rescue squad; and (12) One certified, emergency nurse in

current practice who is a member of the Emergency Room Nurses Association. The members of

the board shall be chosen and shall hold office for five (5) years and until their respective

successors are appointed and qualified. In the month of February in each year, the governor shall

appoint successors to the members of the board whose terms shall expire in that year, to hold

office until the first day of March in the fifth (5th) year after their appointment and until their

respective successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy that may occur in the board shall

be filled by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the

original appointment. Each member may designate a representative to attend in his or her absence

by notifying the chair prior to that meeting of the board. The board shall meet at least quarterly

and to elect its officers annually.

     (b) The division of emergency medical services of the department of health shall provide

staff support to the board.

     23-4.1-7. Standards for ambulance license.

     (a) The director of health shall issue regulations to govern the standards of suitability of

ambulances for the transportation of patients from the standpoint of health, sanitation, safety,

communications, maintenance, on-board medical equipment, safety equipment, extraction

equipment, ambulance markings, garaging conditions, and care and condition of the ambulance

and its equipment, and to govern minimum financial capacity of private ambulance service

providers.

     (b) If a proposed regulation would result in additional mandated costs to local

government, as defined in § 45-13-7, the final regulation shall not be adopted until after the

senate committee on health and human services and the house committee on health, education

and welfare have held public hearings to assess the proposals.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION

SERVICES

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     This act would replace two (2) employees from the department of health with two (2)

municipal officials on the ambulance service coordinating advisory board. It would also require

senate and house committees to hold public hearings concerning proposed department of health

regulations for ambulance license standards.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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