Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 68.

Present law generally establishes a system of licensure, certification, and authorization for emergency medical services personnel. This bill creates two new classes of emergency services personnel, as follows: (1) An emergency medical responder (EMR) is a person who has successfully completed an EMR training course and has qualified by examinations to perform lifesaving interventions and to assist higher-level personnel at the scene and during transport, under medical direction; and (2) An emergency medical services – apprentice (EMS-A) is a person who does not possess an EMS license to provide emergency medical care in this state but meets all other requirements for operating an emergency vehicle. The full text of this bill specifies multiple criteria that must be met in order for a licensed ambulance service to utilize an EMS-A or EMR. In both cases, the EMS-A or EMR must obtain licensure as an EMT, or, in the case of an EMS-A, as an EMR, within 12 months of the EMS-A's initial employment date. This bill specifies that the present law requirement that a person must have a "for-hire endorsement" to operate a Class D vehicle as a chauffeur does not apply to ambulance personnel. This bill authorizes an individual who has reached 18 years of age, has a valid driver license, and has completed an emergency vehicle operations class to serve as an ambulance driver or operator without necessity of any other specialty endorsements.