2021 -- H 5629

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LC001581

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE

NUMBER ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Shekarchi, and Baginski

     Date Introduced: February 19, 2021

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 39-21.1-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-21.1 entitled "911

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Emergency Telephone Number Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-21.1-8. Emergency services included in system.

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     (a) The 911 system shall be capable of transmitting requests for law enforcement,

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firefighting, and emergency medical and ambulance services to a public safety agency or agencies

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that provide the requested service at the place where the call originates. In response to requests for

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emergency medical or ambulance services, the 911 system dispatchers shall also provide for the

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communication of instructions to callers during the period before the arrival of emergency

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responders. By September 1, 2022, the A 911 system shall include telecommunicator

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cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("T-CPR"), provided by certified emergency medical dispatchers

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(EMD) who have satisfactorily completed a training course that meets the requirements of the U.S.

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Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Emergency

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Medical Dispatch (EMD); National Standard Curriculum, as from time to time amended, and any

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other requirements pursuant to ยง 23-4.1-3(c). The 911 system may also provide for transmittal of

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requests for other emergency services, such as poison control, suicide prevention, and civil defense.

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Conferencing capability with counseling, aid to persons with disabilities, and other services as

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deemed necessary for emergency response determination may be provided by the 911 system.

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     (b) Any unit of any agency or municipality in this state that provides law enforcement,

 

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firefighting, medical, or ambulance services to an area shall be part of the 911 system. The 911

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public safety answering point may transmit emergency response requests to private safety agencies.

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     (c) Automatic intrusion alarms and other automatic alerting devices shall not be installed

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so as to cause the number 911 to be dialed in order to directly access emergency services.

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     (d) A comprehensive call review and quality improvement program including but not

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limited to all cardiac arrest and critical calls as well as a random sampling of all calls from the

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emergency telephone system shall be established.

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     (e) All 911 system dispatchers shall be certified in EMD and trained in telecommunicator

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cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("T-CPR") to coach a person calling in about a cardiac arrest

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incident until the rescue or other emergency service unit arrives. EMD continuing education shall

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be provided for 911 system dispatchers.

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     (f) No 911 system operator who renders emergency assistance to a person in need thereof

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shall be liable or civil damages which result from acts or omissions by such person rendering the

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emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence. This immunity does not apply to acts

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or omission constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton conduct

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE

NUMBER ACT

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     This act would establish an emergency telephone system call review and quality

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improvement and would require at least one 911 system operator trained in telecommunicator

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cardiopulmonary resuscitation be on duty at all time.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001581

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