HB 141 Adams, Joe
HB 141 -- EMERGENCY SERVICES
SPONSOR: Adams
This bill moves oversight authority for licensed EMTs from the Department of Health and Senior Services to the Division of Professional Registration, within the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The bill requires the Division to renew an EMT license for five years if the licensee meets the specified requirements. Under the provisions of the bill, the Division is also authorized to grant a six month temporary EMT license. If an EMT allows his or her EMT license to lapse, he or she shall automatically be granted a temporary EMT license. If the licensee meets the requirements specified in the bill, he or she will then be issued a new five year EMT license.
The bill also repeals a current requirement that in order to be considered for a new ambulance service license, an ambulance service submit a letter of endorsement.
Under the provisions of the bill, after August 27, 2028, successful completion of a two-year paramedic degree program from an institution of higher eduction is required in order to obtain an initial license as an emergency medical technician-paramedic. Instructors for such programs must have a bachelor's degree or higher.
The bill requires every first responder agency to provide critical incident counseling services for all of its employees at the agency's expense.
The bill states that an emergency medical technician-basic or advanced emergency medical technician be considered the equivalent of a certified nursing assistant for the purposes of meeting any staffing requirements for hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, abortion facilities, and nursing homes. Such entities must pay employees who are an emergency medical technician-basic or advanced emergency medical technician on the same pay scale it uses for employees who are certified nursing assistants. The bill further states that an emergency medical technician-paramedic will be considered the equivalent of a licensed registered nurse for the purposes of meeting any staffing requirements for hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, abortion facilities, or nursing homes. Such entities must pay employees who are an emergency medical technician-paramedic on the same pay scale it uses for employees who are licensed registered nurses.
This bill is similar to HB 2572 (2022).