Bill Text: CA AB1621 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Emergency medical services: data and information system.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-08-14 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB1621 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB1621-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1621 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 24, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 9, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 21, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Lowenthal and Rodriguez
FEBRUARY 6, 2014
An act to add Section 1797.119 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to emergency medical services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1621, as amended, Lowenthal. Emergency medical services: data
and information system.
Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the
Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act, governs local
emergency medical services systems. The act establishes the Emergency
Medical Services Authority, which is responsible for the
coordination and integration of all state agencies concerning
emergency medical services. Existing law also creates the Commission
on Emergency Medical Services, and requires the commission to perform
various duties regarding the authority and emergency medical
services.
Existing law requires the authority to develop planning and
implementation guidelines for emergency medical services systems that
address data collection and evaluation, among other things. Existing
law requires the commission to review and approve regulations,
standards, and guidelines developed by the authority.
This bill would require the authority to utilize its California
Emergency Medical Services Information System (CEMSIS) and adopt a
single statewide standard for the collection of information regarding
prehospital care to determine and monitor the quality and
effectiveness of the statewide emergency medical services system,
compliant with the most current National Emergency Medical Services
Information System (NEMSIS) standards, and to avoid unnecessary
duplication of data collection at the local level. The bill would
require the authority to develop regulations and standards for
electronic patient care record systems used by local EMS agencies and
local prehospital EMS providers to ensure compatibility with CEMSIS.
The bill would require the authority to comply with its provisions
on or before July 1, 2016. The bill would require the
authority to post proposed rules and to notify the public with regard
to commenting on the proposed rules, as specified.
The bill would also require local EMS agencies to submit specified
information to the authority. By imposing new duties on local
officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would provide that all of the above provisions and any
rules or regulations and standards
adopted pursuant to those provisions would only be implemented to the
extent that funds are made available through an appropriation in the
annual budget act.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1797.119 is added to the Health and Safety
Code, to read:
1797.119. (a) (1) In order to fulfill the authority's
responsibility to assess emergency medical services and their
effectiveness as required by Section 1797.102, the authority shall
utilize its California Emergency Medical Services Information System
(CEMSIS) and adopt a single statewide standard for the collection of
information regarding prehospital care to determine and monitor the
quality and effectiveness of the statewide emergency medical services
system, compliant with the most current National Emergency Medical
Services Information System (NEMSIS) standards, and to avoid
unnecessary duplication of data collection at the local level.
(2) The authority shall comply with this section on or before July
1, 2016.
(b) (1) The authority shall develop regulations and standards for
electronic patient care record systems used by local EMS agencies and
local prehospital EMS providers to ensure compatibility with CEMSIS,
including, but not limited to, a common data dictionary, integration
of first responder data, transport provider data, and patient
outcome data, and compliant with current NEMSIS standards and privacy
requirements in state and federal law. Privacy requirements shall
ensure that all patient data obtained from EMS providers for the
purpose of this section is subject to legal privacy and security
standards consistent with privacy and security protections for
personal health data in the possession of EMS providers under state
and federal law.
(2) The regulations and standards developed by the authority shall
describe standards for the purpose of standardizing data collection.
The regulations and standards shall allow the use of any prehospital
electronic patient record system, provided that the system is
compatible with CEMSIS, compliant with NEMSIS, and meets the
standards set by the authority.
(3) The authority shall consult with stakeholders in the
development of standards and compatibility with CEMSIS, including air
ambulance providers and other entities not included in the
California Commission on Emergency Medical Services membership.
(4) Local EMS agencies and local prehospital EMS providers that
upgrade or purchase an electronic patient care record system on or
after the date the authority issues final guidance pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall ensure that the system complies with standards
contained in that guidance.
(c) Local EMS agencies shall submit patient information consistent
with the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) to the
authority in a timely manner, using NEMSIS standards and
electronic transfer when available.
(d) The authority, in order to exercise the powers and perform the
duties conferred upon it by this chapter, and in accordance with
Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3
of the Government Code, shall adopt, amend, or repeal any rules,
regulations, or standards as may be necessary.
(e) The authority shall post any proposed rules promulgated under
this section on its public Internet Web site no later than 90
calendar days prior to the effective date of the proposed rule, which
shall also include notification to the public regarding how members
of the public may comment, including the date by which those comments
must be received in order to be considered by the authority.
(f)
(d) This section and any rules and
regulations and standards promulgated pursuant to this
section shall be implemented only to the extent that funds are made
available through an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.
