THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1340
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that existing laws relating to the certification of emergency medical personnel address only emergency ambulance service personnel and do not address all emergency medical technicians who successfully complete the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification that is based upon the national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation. These other technicians include firefighters and ocean safety lifeguards who provide emergency medical care to patients but do not provide emergency ambulance services.

The purpose of this Act is to enable the Hawaii medical board to also certify emergency medical responders other than emergency ambulance service personnel.

SECTION 2. Section 453-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§453-31 Emergency [ambulance] service personnel. The practice of any emergency medical services by any individual employed by an emergency [ambulance] service who is not licensed under this chapter or under chapter 457 shall be subject to certification under this part. In the event of any conflict between this part and any rules adopted under section 453-2, this part shall control with regard to emergency [ambulance] service personnel.

The Hawaii medical board shall define the scope of the practice of emergency medical services, different levels of the practice, and degree of supervision required of a supervising physician or osteopathic physician when a person certified under this part provides services within the practice of medicine."

SECTION 3. Section 453-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§453-32 Certification of emergency [ambulance] personnel. (a) The Hawaii medical board shall certify individuals as qualified in emergency medical services upon application therefor; provided that the applicant for certification:

(1) Holds a certificate from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, has satisfactorily passed a course of training in emergency medical services for emergency [ambulance] services personnel [which] that shall be based on the national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation and approved by the board, and meets other standards and qualifications, including passage of an examination, set by the Hawaii medical board pertinent to the practice of emergency medical services in Hawaii;

(2) Meets continuing education requirements [which] that shall be set by the Hawaii medical board; and

(3) Meets other qualifications set by the Hawaii medical board.

(b) The board shall directly review the credentials of applicants and administer examinations required. Certification under this section shall be a prerequisite to the practice of emergency medical services as an employee of an emergency ambulance service.

(c) The Hawaii medical board shall provide standard application forms for the certification of emergency [ambulance] personnel and shall provide for the periodic renewal of such certification. The Hawaii medical board shall assess a fee for such application, certification, and renewal. The Hawaii medical board shall provide for the revocation, suspension, or limitation of certification in the event an individual once certified under this section fails to maintain or meet requirements for continued certification, or for good cause shown.

(d) An individual with proof of current certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians as an emergency medical technician may be deemed to have met the educational requirements to perform emergency medical services as an emergency medical technician in the State."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Emergency Medical Responders; Hawaii Medical Board; Certification

Description:

Enables the Hawaii medical board to certify emergency medical responders other than emergency ambulance service personnel.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.