SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1184
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR STEELMAN.
Read 1st time February 20, 2002, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4807S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal sections 190.092 and 190.142, RSMo, relating to emergency services, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the same subject, with penalty provisions.
Section A. Sections 190.092 and 190.142, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 190.092 and 190.142, to read as follows:
190.092. 1. For purposes of this section, "first responder" shall be defined as a person who has successfully completed an emergency first response course meeting or exceeding the national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation and any modifications to such curricula specified by the department through rules adopted pursuant to sections 190.001 to 190.180 and who provides emergency medical care through employment by, or in association with, an emergency medical response agency. [Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is promulgated under the authority of this chapter, shall become effective only if the agency has fully complied with all of the requirements of chapter 536, RSMo, including but not limited to, section 536.028, RSMo, if applicable, after August 28, 1998. All rulemaking authority delegated prior to August 28, 1998, is of no force and effect and repealed as of August 28, 1998, however nothing in this section shall be interpreted to repeal or affect the validity of any rule adopted and promulgated prior to August 28, 1998. If the provisions of section 536.028, RSMo, apply, the provisions of this section are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to section 536.028, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule or portion of a rule are held unconstitutional or invalid, the purported grant of rulemaking authority and any rule so proposed and contained in the order of rulemaking shall be invalid and void, except that nothing in this section shall affect the validity of any rule adopted and promulgated prior to August 28, 1998.]
2. A first responder shall display proof of completion of the emergency first response course required by this section in plain view of clients of the emergency medical response agency by which the first responder is employed.
3. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2002, shall be invalid and void.
[2.] 4. Any county, municipality or fire protection district may establish a program to allow the use of automated external defibrillators by any person properly qualified who follows medical protocol for use of the device or member of a fire, police, ambulance service, emergency medical response agency or first responder agency provided that such person has completed a course certified by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association that includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and demonstrated proficiency in the use of such automated external defibrillators.
[3.] 5. A person or entity who acquires an automated external defibrillator shall ensure that:
(1) Expected defibrillator users receive training by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators, or an equivalent nationally recognized course in defibrillator use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
(2) The defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;
(3) Any person who renders emergency care or treatment on a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated external defibrillator activates the emergency medical services system as soon as possible; and
(4) Any person that owns an automated external defibrillator that is for use outside of a health care facility shall have a physician provide medical protocol for the use of the device.
[4.] 6. Any person or entity who acquires an automated external defibrillator shall notify the emergency communications district or the ambulance dispatch center of the primary provider of emergency medical services where the automated external defibrillator is to be located.
[5.] 7. Any person who has had appropriate training, including a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, has demonstrated a proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator, and who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care when medically appropriate by use of or provision of an automated external defibrillator, without objection of the injured victim or victims thereof, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment, where the person acts as an ordinarily reasonable, prudent person, or with regard to a health care professional, as a reasonably prudent and careful health care provider would have acted, under the same or similar circumstances. Nothing in this section shall affect any claims brought pursuant to chapter 537 or 538, RSMo.
190.142. 1. The department shall, within a reasonable time after receipt of an application, cause such investigation as it deems necessary to be made of the applicant for an emergency medical technician's license. The director may authorize investigations into criminal records in other states for any applicant.
2. The department shall issue a license to all levels of emergency medical technicians, for a period of five years, if the applicant meets the requirements established pursuant to sections 190.001 to 190.245 and the rules adopted by the department pursuant to sections 190.001 to 190.245. The department may promulgate rules relating to the requirements for an emergency medical technician including but not limited to:
(1) Age requirements;
(2) Education and training requirements based on respective national curricula of the United States Department of Transportation and any modification to such curricula specified by the department through rules adopted pursuant to sections 190.001 to 190.245;
(3) Initial licensure testing requirements;
(4) Continuing education and relicensure requirements; and
(5) Ability to speak, read and write the English language.
3. Application for all levels of emergency medical technician license shall be made upon such forms as prescribed by the department in rules adopted pursuant to sections 190.001 to 190.245. The application form shall contain such information as the department deems necessary to make a determination as to whether the emergency medical technician meets all the requirements of sections 190.001 to 190.245 and rules promulgated pursuant to sections 190.001 to 190.245.
4. All levels of emergency medical technicians may perform only that patient care which is:
(1) Consistent with the training, education and experience of the particular emergency medical technician; and
(2) Ordered by a physician or set forth in protocols approved by the medical director.
5. (1) No person shall hold themselves out as an emergency medical technician or provide the services of an emergency medical technician unless such person is licensed by the department.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a class C felony for each and every offense. The treatment of each individual patient in violation of this subsection shall constitute a separate offense.
(3) Any person filing or attempting to file as his own a license of another, or forged affidavit of identification, shall be guilty of a class C felony and upon conviction thereof shall be subjected to such fine and imprisonment as is provided by the statutes of this state for the crime of forgery.
6. No individual shall employ a person who violates the provisions of subsection 5 of this section, or such individual shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
[6.] 7. All patients transported in a supine position in a vehicle other than an ambulance shall receive an appropriate level of care. The department shall promulgate rules regarding the provisions of this section. This subsection shall only apply to vehicles transporting patients for a fee. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2002, shall be invalid and void.