Chapter 221

2019 -- H 6169 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/15/2019

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, O'Brien, Ucci, and Costantino

Date Introduced: May 30, 2019

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 23-4.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-4.1 entitled

"Emergency Medical Transportation Services" is hereby amended to read as follows:

23-4.1-2. Ambulance service coordinating advisory board.

(a) The ambulance service coordinating advisory board is hereby created and shall consist

of twenty-five (25) members appointed as set out in this section. The governor shall appoint the

members of the board as follows: (1) Two (2) from the department of health One mayor, town

administrator, town manager, or other municipal official recommended by the senate president;

(2) Seven (7) Eight (8) practicing, licensed emergency medical technicians as follows: three (3)

from a full-time, paid department, who shall be recommended from the Rhode Island State

Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF, AFL-CIO; two (2) who are active E.M.S. administrators, one

recommended by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs and one recommended by the

Rhode Island State Firemen's League from a volunteer fire department; one and two (2)

recommended by the senate president; and one recommended by the speaker of the house and

one recommended by the senate president; (3) One from the R.I. Hospital Association; (4) One

from the R.I. Medical Society; (5) One from the R.I. chapter of the American College of

Surgeons, committee on trauma; (6) One from the R.I. chapter of the American College of

Emergency Physicians; (7) One from the Rhode Island chapter of the American Academy of

Pediatrics; (8) Two (2) from a professional ambulance service; (9) Two (2) from the general

public; (10) Two (2) from Providence county who are active members of a public ambulance

service or fire department rescue squad unit, one from a full-time paid department and one from a

volunteer department; (11) Four (4), one each from the counties of Kent, Newport, Bristol, and

Washington, who shall be members of a public ambulance service or a fire department rescue

squad; and (12) One certified, emergency nurse in current practice who is a member of the

Emergency Room Nurses Association. The members of the board shall be chosen and shall hold

office for five (5) years and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. In the

month of February in each year, the governor shall appoint successors to the members of the

board whose terms shall expire in that year, to hold office until the first day of March in the fifth

(5th) year after their appointment and until their respective successors are appointed and

qualified. Any vacancy that may occur in the board shall be filled by appointment for the

remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. Each member

may designate a representative to attend in his or her absence by notifying the chair prior to that

meeting of the board. The board shall meet at least quarterly and to elect its officers annually.

(b) The division of emergency medical services of the department of health shall provide

staff support to the board.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC002712/SUB A/4

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