WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4881

By Delegates Campbell and Pyles

[Introduced February 11, 2020; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-4C-6d, relating to permitting individuals who have certain qualifications to operate as tactical emergency medicine providers; permitting tactical emergency medicine providers to practice emergency medicine; and requiring rule-making.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4C. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT.

§16-4C-6d. Tactical emergency medicine providers.

(a) An individual who meets the following qualifications may operate as a tactical emergency medicine provider:

(1) Is an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, or a paramedic.

(2) Is employed by:

(A) A law-enforcement agency; or

(B) An emergency medical services agency that has an agreement with a law- enforcement agency to provide retrieval and field medical treatment to victims of violent confrontations.

(3) Has successfully completed an accredited educational training program in tactical emergency medicine that meets the core curriculum requirements approved by the council. However, the council may approve a program provided by:

(A) A military, naval, or air service of the armed forces of the United States;

(B) A program accredited by a federal or state governmental agency; or

(C) A program provided by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians that is accredited by the council, and substantially meets the core curriculum requirements approved by the council.

(b) An individual who meets the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section may practice emergency medicine according to the individual’s scope of training and as approved by the medical director of the law-enforcement agency or an emergency medical services agency supervising the individual.

(c) A law-enforcement agency or an emergency medical services agency has an agreement with a law-enforcement agency to operate under this section must be certified as a provider organization by the council.

(d) The director shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement this section.

(e) Before August 31, 2020, the director shall adopt emergency rules in accordance with §29A-3-15 of this code to implement this section. The emergency rules must incorporate the following:

(1) Criteria for basic and advanced life support personnel to function as tactical medical support for law-enforcement agencies; and

(2) Tactical emergency medical support core curriculum requirements.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit individuals who have certain qualifications to operate as tactical emergency medicine providers. The bill permits tactical emergency medicine providers to practice emergency medicine. The bill requires rule-making.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.