(a) A county commission may, by ordinance, impose upon and collect from the users of emergency ambulance service within the county a special service fee, which shall be known as the ‘special emergency ambulance service fee’. The proceeds from the imposition and collection of any special service fee shall be deposited in a special fund and used only to pay reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred and the cost of buildings and equipment used in providing emergency ambulance service to residents of the county. The proceeds may be used to pay for, in whole or in part, the establishment, maintenance and operation of an authority, as provided for in this article: Provided, That an ambulance company or authority receiving funds from the special emergency ambulance fees collected pursuant to this section may not be precluded from making nonemergency transports.

(b) A county commission may initiate collection of delinquent fees through filing an action in magistrate court or placement of a judgement lien, and is not required to pay court costs and fees associated with these processes. Upon a finding by a court that the delinquent fee is lawfully owed, all court fees relating to collection shall be imposed upon the person found to be delinquent. The county commission may nominate a representative to perform the duties of this process.

(c) A county commission is authorized to set an emergency response readiness fee to be collected from persons receiving emergency medical services who refuse to be transported. The manner of collection shall be pursuant to this section. Provided that;

(1) An emergency medical services agency was dispatched for response by a county emergency dispatch center; and

(2) If a prudent layperson acting reasonably would have believed that an emergency medical condition existed at the time assistance was requested from a county emergency dispatch center; and

(3) The fee collected from persons receiving emergency medical services who refuse to be transported does not exceed $300.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) ‘Emergency medical services’ means those services required to screen for or treat an emergency medical condition until that condition is stabilized, including prehospital care;

(2) ‘Emergency medical services agency’ means any agency licensed under Chapter 16, article 4C, section six-a of this code to provide emergency medical services;

(3) ‘Prudent layperson’ means a person who is without medical training and who draws on his or her practical experience when marking a decision regarding whether an emergency medical condition exists for which emergency treatment should be sought;

(4) ‘Emergency medical condition’ means a condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity including severe pain such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in serious jeopardy to the individual's health or with respect to a pregnant woman the health of the unborn child, serious impairment to bodily functions or serious dysfunction of any bodily part or organ.”