Amends TCA Title 68.

Present law requires the Tennessee emergency medical services board to establish a pilot project whereby up to 15 EMT/AEMT training centers may be operated by licensed ambulance services. This bill makes the pilot project a regular program and doubles to 30 the number of EMT/AEMT training centers operated by licensed ambulance services that the board may authorize. Other significant differences between the present pilot project and the program that this bill implements are as follows: (1) This bill removes the requirement that the board consider whether an EMT/AEMT training center exists in the relevant service area in which a pilot EMT/AEMT training center is seeking to be located when considering a pilot EMT/AEMT training center application; (2) This bill removes authorization for an ambulance service located in a county with a population of less than 50,000 to send students to another county for training; (3) This bill adds authorization for a training program offered by an EMT/AEMT training center to utilize online or virtual interactive training for didactic instruction subject to the same rules and regulations for online and virtual interactive training provided by accredited EMS education institutions; and (4) This bill removes the requirements that ambulance services that operate an EMT/AEMT training center keep records concerning student enrollment and completion, and submit the records to the board quarterly for the compilation of an annual report to the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate. ON MARCH 7, 2022, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 1956 FOR SENATE BILL 1908, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1956, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds that the general assembly urges ambulance services operating EMT/AEMT training centers and the Tennessee board of regents to develop partnerships as practicable to increase the capacity of this state to prepare EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics.