WEST virginia legislature
2021 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 577
By Senators Phillips, Stollings, Roberts, and Jeffries
[Introduced March 5, 2021;
referred
to the Committee on Government Organization]
A BILL 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 article 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 do not 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 subsection (d) section three of
this article §16-4C-3(e) of this code; and (3) creates an exemption from license and
inspection fees for fire departments that do not charge fees for their
services and which authorizes such fire departments to conduct self inspections
of their emergency vehicles in accordance with any applicable state or federal
requirements for emergency medical service vehicles. The commissioner shall
file the rule required by this subsection as an emergency rule on or before
July 1, 1999. The Legislature hereby finds that an emergency exists compelling
promulgation of an emergency rule, consistent with the provisions of this
subsection 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.