HCS HB 1977 -- EMERGENCY SERVICES

SPONSOR:  Bruns (Wasson)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Public Safety by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding emergency services and
emergency medical technicians-intermediate.  In its main
provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires all basic life support ambulances and stretcher
vans to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator and
staffed by at least one person trained in its use;

(2)  Repeals the provision allowing only emergency medical
response agencies, fire departments, and fire protection
districts to provide certain advanced life support services with
emergency medical technicians-intermediate;

(3)  Repeals the provision requiring emergency medical response
agencies using emergency medical technicians-intermediate to work
in collaboration with an ambulance service providing advanced
life support with personnel trained at the paramedic level;

(4)  Allows a temporary emergency medical technician licensee to
practice under the immediate supervision of a licensed emergency
medical technician-intermediate;

(5)  Requires employers and supervisors of emergency medical
technicians-intermediate to cooperate with the Department of
Health and Senior Services compliance requirements under the
Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services Systems Act; and

(6)  Adds an emergency medical technician-intermediate or EMT-I
to the definition of "emergency medical care provider" as it
relates to exposure to contagious or infectious diseases.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill increases the level of
care patients receive from basic to intermediate allowing for any
needed invasive procedures.  In some areas of the state, it is
difficult to find paramedics.  By allowing an EMT-I designation,
it will alleviate this problem.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wasson; Sean Hill;
George Wright; and Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm