SB63 By Senator Dial RFD Health and Human Services Rd 1 02-FEB-16

SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, the State Board of Health licenses emergency medical personnel and adopts rules relating to emergency medical services. An advisory board recommends the establishment of rules and standards relating to emergency medical services and the licensing of emergency medical service personnel. Under existing law, the board meets at least once a year and at the call of the State Health Officer.

This bill would specify that one member of the advisory board would be designated by the Alabama Emergency Medical Services Association in lieu of the existing designation and would expand the membership of the advisory board by adding a member designated by the Alabama Council on EMS and a member designated by the Alabama Air Ambulance. This bill would also specify that only members of the advisory board who hold a current EMSP license would be able to vote on matters pertaining to the adoption of EMS rules, licensing of EMSPs discipline, and education requirements. The advisory board would also be directed to meet twice a year.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to emergency medical services; to amend Section 22-18-5, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further for the membership, operation, and meetings of the EMS advisory board.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 22-18-5, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§22-18-5.

"(a) There shall be an advisory board of 25 members to assist in the establishment of rules, regulations and standards regarding EMSP licensure, education requirements, discipline of EMSP, and EMS rules promulgation necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. Only licensed EMSP appointed by the Alabama Ambulance Association, Alabama Association of Rescue Squads, the Professional Firefighters Association of Alabama, the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs, the Alabama Emergency Medical Services Education Committee, the Alabama Emergency Medical Services Association, the Alabama Firefighters Association, and the members of the Association of Air Medical Services which provide service within Alabama may vote on matters pertaining to the adoption of EMS rules, EMS licensure, EMS education requirements, and discipline of EMSP licenses. Under this article, issues regarding EMSP licensure, EMS education, discipline of EMSP and rule adoption are required to be approved by both the Advisory Board and the State Board of Health in order to be effective. The board shall meet at least once twice each year and at the call of the State Health Officer or at the call of the chair. The State Health Officer shall be an ex officio member of the advisory board. The advisory board shall elect one from its membership to serve as chair for a two-year term. The chair shall not serve consecutive terms.

"(b) Composition of the advisory board shall be:

"(1) One member designated by the Alabama Ambulance Association.

"(2) One member designated by the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads.

"(3) One member designated by the Alabama Hospital Association.

"(4) One member designated by the State Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons.

"(5) One member designated by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.

"(6) One member designated by the Director of Public Safety Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.

"(7) One member designated by the Director of the State Department of Transportation.

"(8) One member designated by the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Highway Traffic and Safety Program.

"(9) State Health Officer, as ex officio member with voting privileges.

"(10) One member who shall be a paramedic firefighter designated by the Professional Firefighters Association of Alabama.

"(11) One member who shall be an EMT firefighter designated by the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments.

"(12) One member designated by the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs.

"(13) Two members designated by the Alabama Council on EMS to represent the designated regional EMS agencies.

"(14) One member designated by the State Committee of Public Health.

"(15) One member designated by the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

"(16) One member designated by the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

"(17) One member from a state approved paramedic training school designated by the Alabama Emergency Medical Services Education Committee.

"(18) One member who shall be an EMT designated by the professional EMT association if a professional EMT association is designated by the Board of Health or pursuant to other procedure established by law Alabama Emergency Medical Services Association.

"(19) One member designated by the Alabama Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association.

"(20) One member designated by the Alabama League of Municipalities.

"(21) One member designated by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.

"(22) One member designated by the Alabama Emergency Management Council.

"(23) One member designated by the Alabama State Nurses' Association.

"(24) One member designated by the Alabama Firefighters Association.

"(25) One member designated by the Alabama Society of Hospital Pharmacists.

"(26) One member designated by those members of the Association of Air Medical Services which provide service within Alabama.

"(c) Each representative shall serve for a period of four years or until his successor is appointed, whichever is sooner.

"(d) Each ex officio member's term will be indefinite. In the case of vacancy, the new appointee shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. Any vacancy shall be filled by the original organization selecting said member. Any member who fails to attend at least one-half of all meetings within a calendar year shall be deemed to have vacated his or her position and shall be replaced by the appointing organization. Members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation but and shall not be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of their office as provided in Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 36 of this code.

"(e) With the consent of the majority of the members of the advisory board, the chair shall set requirements for proxy representation, voting, and the establishment of a quorum provided that no such rule is in conflict with any other provision of the law. For the purposes of voting on any matter pertaining to the adoption of EMS rules, EMS licensure, EMS education requirements and discipline of EMSP, it shall only be necessary to establish a quorum from among those advisory board members that are licensed EMSP."

Section 2. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Health Department

Emergency Medical Services

Health

Code Amended