Senator Introduces Legislation to Reform EMS Practices and Procedures
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| Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (D - Los Angeles) |
Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (D - Los Angeles) introduced CPF-sponsored legislation, SB 997, that would implement certain key reforms in the emergency medical services field, specifically relating to emergency medical technicians (EMT's).
As recently amended, SB 997 is a companion measure to AB 2917 (Torrico), an Administration-sponsored bill that seeks to implement key reforms in the emergency medical technician certification process, as well as the disciplinary authority of state and local emergency medical services agencies. To this end, SB 997 is contingent upon the enactment of AB 2917.
Specifically, SB 997 considers an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician or Advance EMT as someone who has additional training in limited advanced life support. In doing so, this bill conforms terms currently being used by the National Scope of Practice Committee, thereby enabling consistency when using such terminology.
This bill also includes two additional gubernatorial appointees on the EMS Commission who are selected from a list of names submitted by the California Professional Firefighters. One appointee would be employed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) and the other would be employed by local government. As such, SB 997 provides additional, appropriate firefighter/paramedic voices on the EMS Commission - one representing state interests and one representing local interests.
SB 997 received bi-partisan support in both the Senate and Assembly and is now headed to the Governor's Desk for final approval. AB 2917 garnered tremendous support in the Assembly and Senate and is now also headed to the Governor's desk for approval. The Governor signed SB 997 into law on September 25, 2008 (Chapter #275, Statutes of 2008). The Governor signed AB 2917 on September 25, 2008 (Chapter #274, Statutes of 2008).
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