WEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Enrolled

Senate Bill 577

By Senators Phillips, Stollings, Roberts, and Jeffries

[Passed April 6, 2021; in effect from passage]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §16-4C-23 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to exempting certain fire departments from licensure requirements for the provision of rapid response services.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4C.  EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT.

§16-4C-23.  Authority of the commissioner to make rules.

(a) The commissioner shall propose for promulgation, legislative rules pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to carry out the purposes of this article.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of §16-4C-6(a) of this code, the commissioner shall propose for promulgation a legislative rule regulating fire department rapid response services, pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code which: (1) Establishes licensure and certification requirements for fire department rapid response services who charge for their services or transport patients; (2) incorporates necessary applicable emergency medical services requirements for licensure for “emergency medical services” as the requirements apply to fire departments and as defined in §16-4C-3(e) of this code; and (3) creates an exemption from licensure for certain fire departments who do not charge for their services or patient transport, but who provide rapid response services pursuant to an agreement with a licensed emergency medical services agency that addresses medical direction, training, quality assurance, and liability insurance.