Bill Text: HI SB455 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating To Emergency Medical Services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [SB455 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SB455-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

455

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The current Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to certification of emergency medical personnel does not address emergency medical technicians who successfully complete National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification that is based on the national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation to be qualified to perform emergency medical services as an emergency medical technician in the State.  These personnel include firefighters and ocean safety lifeguards who are dispatched to and are providing care to patients in need of emergency medical care, but are not working on an ambulance.  The benefits of this Act will be that:

     (1)  The State will have some oversight as to requirements and performance as it does with current emergency medical technicians;

     (2)  The system will be more robust and resilient by licensing an additional one thousand four hundred emergency medical technicians to provide care during times of urgent need including during disaster response; and

     (3)  This Act will not change the functionality of the current day-to-day system.  This means that only current state-licensed ambulance employed emergency medical technicians will be able to work on an ambulance, and firefighters and ocean safety lifeguards must meet additional requirements, just as they do today, in order to work on an ambulance.

     The purpose of this Act is to allow emergency medical personnel who successfully complete National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification to be qualified to perform emergency medical services as emergency medical technicians in the State.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§453-     Certification of emergency medical technician.  Personnel with proof of current certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians that is based on the national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation shall be deemed qualified to perform emergency medical services as emergency medical technicians in the State.  The Hawaii medical board shall provide for the revocation, suspension, or limitation of certification if an individual once certified under this section fails to maintain or meet requirements for continued certification or for good cause shown."

     SECTION 3.  Section 453-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§453-32  Certification of emergency ambulance personnel.  The Hawaii medical board shall certify individuals as qualified in emergency medical services upon application therefor; provided that the applicant for certification:

     (1)  Holds a certificate from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, has satisfactorily passed a course of training in emergency medical services for emergency ambulance services personnel which shall be based on the national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation and approved by the board, and meets other standards and qualifications, including passage of an examination[,] set by the Hawaii medical board pertinent to the practice of emergency medical services in Hawaii;

     (2)  Meets continuing education requirements which shall be set by the Hawaii medical board; and

     (3)  Meets other qualifications set by the Hawaii medical board.

The board shall directly review the credentials of applicants and administer required examinations [required].  Certification under this section shall be a prerequisite to the practice of emergency medical services as an employee of an emergency ambulance service.

     The Hawaii medical board shall provide standard application forms for the certification of emergency ambulance personnel and [shall] provide for the periodic renewal of such certification.  The Hawaii medical board shall assess a fee for such application, certification, and renewal.  The Hawaii medical board shall provide for the revocation, suspension, or limitation of certification in the event an individual once certified under this section fails to maintain or meet requirements for continued certification[,] or for good cause shown."

     SECTION 4.  Section 453-32.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§453-32.1  Renewal of certification.  (a)  Every person holding a certificate under this part shall renew the certificate with the board no later than January 31 of each even-numbered year, pay a renewal fee, and comply with the continuing education requirements set forth in the board's rules.

     (b)  To determine compliance, the board may conduct a random audit.  A person selected for audit shall be notified by the board.  Within [sixty] 60 days of notification, the person shall provide to the board documentation to verify compliance with the continuing education requirements.

     (c)  Failure to renew, pay the renewal fee, and, in the case of audited persons, provide documentation of compliance shall constitute a forfeiture of the certificate which may only be restored upon the submission of written application, payment to the board of a restoration fee, and in the case of audited persons, documentation of compliance.

     (d)  A certificate that has been forfeited for one renewal term shall be automatically terminated and cannot be restored, and a new application for certification shall be required."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

By Request


 


 

Report Title:

State Fire Council Package; Emergency Medical Services

 

Description:

Certification of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to include personnel with proper certifications, to be deemed qualified to perform emergency medical services as EMTs in the State.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

feedback