HB 1939 -- Stretcher Van Services

Co-Sponsors:  Graham (24), Dolan

This bill regulates stretcher van services.  The bill:

(1)  Requires any person or governmental entity to be licensed
by the Department of Health if the person or entity advertises,
engages, or proposes to engage in the transport of persons
confined to stretchers who do not need medical attention.  The
Department of Health can issue licenses for a period of 5 years;

(2)  Allows the department to refuse to issue or to deny renewal
of a license for stretcher van services for failure to comply
with statutory provisions or with regulations;

(3)  Allows applicants to appeal the decision concerning the
denial of a license to the Administrative Hearing Commission;

(4)  Specifies conditions which allow the department to file a
complaint with the Administrative Hearing Commission;

(5)  Allows the department to censure or to place a person named
in a complaint on probation for a period not exceeding 5 years.
The department can suspend a violator's license for a period up
to 3 years or revoke a violator's license;

(6)  Contains provisions concerning the re-licensure of a person
whose license has been revoked;

(7)  Allows the department to notify the proper licensing
authority of another state concerning a person with a suspended
or revoked license;

(8)  Exempts persons, associations, or corporations that provide
information to the department in good faith from actions for
civil damages;

(9)  Allows the department to suspend an operator's license
simultaneous to filing a complaint with the Administrative
Hearing Commission if an imminent threat to public health
exists.  Appeals of the suspension can be filed with the
department;

(10)  Contains provisions concerning the disposition of the
suspension;

(11)  Classifies the type of transport and passengers who are
eligible for transport by stretcher van operators;

(12)  Establishes operating requirements for stretcher vans and
requires two-person crews to be certified in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation; and

(13)  Requires a stretcher van agency to provide proof of public
liability insurance.