Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 68, Chapter 140, Part 3.
Under present law , the Tennessee emergency medical services board consists of 13 members appointed by the governor under the following conditions: <br /> <br /> (1) Two licensed physicians, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested medical groups;<br /> <br /> (2) One registered nurse, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested hospital groups;<br /> <br /> (3) One hospital administrator, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested hospital groups;<br /> <br /> (4) One member who maintains certification or licensure as emergency medical services personnel, registered nurse, or physician and who is also affiliated with a volunteer nonprofit ambulance service;<br /> <br /> (5) Two operators of ambulance services, each of whom maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested ambulance services groups; <br /> <br /> (6) One rescue squad member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel. The rescue squad member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested rescue squad groups;<br /> <br /> (7) One professional firefighter member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel or registered nurse. The professional firefighter member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested firefighter groups; <br /> <br /> (8) One member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel. Such member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested civil defense groups; <br /> <br /> (9) Two officials of county, municipal or metropolitan governments which operate ambulance services; and <br /> <br /> (10) One (1) paramedic instructor from an accredited paramedic program licensed in this state. <br /> <br /> The governor must consult with the interested emergency medical services groups to determine qualified people to fill the positions on the board. Members, except those appointed to complete the term of a former member, must be appointed for a term of four years, or until their successors are appointed. Vacancies must be filled through appointment by the governor, considering the recommendations of the board or interested emergency medical services groups listed in (1)-(10) above. The interested emergency medical services group must submit names that satisfy the residency requirements set out below. Any member who is absent from three consecutive meetings may be removed from the board by the governor or by action of the majority of the board. In making appointments to the board, the governor must strive to ensure that at least one member serving on the board is 60 years of age or older and that at least one person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority. <br /> <br /> As a vacancy occurs or as a term expires, the governor must make appointments so that the board is structured with four members being residents of the eastern, middle, and western grand divisions, respectively, and one member must be an at-large member. <br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the chair, who is elected by the board to certify the actions of the board. The board must meet at the call of the chair and must be convened by the chair for at least two meetings per year, and such other meetings as are necessary to transact the business of the board, or upon receipt of a written request signed by three or more members of the board. Seven members of the board must constitute a quorum for the transaction of meetings. <br /> <br /> Any member who misses more than 50 percent of the scheduled meetings in a calendar year must be removed as a member of the board. The emergency medical services director must promptly notify, or cause to be notified, the appointing authority of any member who fails to satisfy the attendance requirement. The members of the board must be paid a per diem of $50 for attending board meetings and must be reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in attending board meetings, ad hoc committee activities or other travel incurred in the performance of the official duties, in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general. <br /> <br /> The board must keep accurate minutes of the proceedings of all its meetings, a copy of which must be kept on file in the office of the director and open to public inspection. Any administrative services for the board must be provided by the department. <br /> <br /> RECONSTITUTED BOARD<br /> <br /> This bill vacates and reconstitutes the existing membership of the board through appointments by the governor as follows:<br /> <br /> (1) One physician licensed in Tennessee who acts as the medical director of an ambulance service;<br /> <br /> (2) One air-medical registered nurse with an EMS license (emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic) in this state;<br /> <br /> (3) One representative who is an administrator of a hospital-based ambulance service who is either a paramedic, EMS-boarded physician, or EMS medical director;<br /> <br /> (4) One paramedic who is the director of a private ambulance service in this state;<br /> <br /> (5) One paramedic who is the director of a government-based ambulance service in this state;<br /> <br /> (6) One paramedic with medical first response or transport responsibilities who is employed by an ambulance service in Tennessee;<br /> <br /> (7) One administrator with a paramedic license who is employed by a fire service in Tennessee that operates a medical first response service or ambulance service;<br /> <br /> (8) One paramedic with medical first responder or transport responsibilities that is employed by a fire service in Tennessee; <br /> <br /> (9) One official of a county in this state that operates an ambulance service or medical first response service;<br /> <br /> (10) One official of a municipality in this state that operates an ambulance service or medical first response service;<br /> <br /> (11) One program director of an accredited paramedic program taught at an institution of higher education in this state;<br /> <br /> (12) One paramedic that is an instructor, coordinator, or program director for an EMT or paramedic program that is taught at an EMS agency in this state; and <br /> <br /> (13) A paramedic that holds a community paramedicine endorsement in this state, or a paramedic employed by an agency providing mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) services in this state. <br /> <br /> In order to stagger the terms of the newly appointed board members, the governor must make the initial appoints in the following manner:<br /> <br /> (A) The people appointed under (1)-(4) above are appointed for terms of one year, which expire on June 30, 2024; <br /> <br /> (B) The people appointed under (5)-(7) above are appointed for terms of two years, which expire on June 30, 2025;<br /> <br /> (C) The people appointed under (8)-(10) above are appointed for terms of three years, which expire on June 30, 2026; and <br /> <br /> (D) The people appointed under (11)-(13) above are appointed for terms of four years, which expire on June 30, 2027.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes members serving on the board as of June 30, 2023, to be reappointed to serve as members after such date. <br /> <br /> Following the expiration of the members’ initial terms as prescribed in items (A)-(D), all four-year terms begin on July 1, and terminate on June 30, four years thereafter. Members, not appointed under (1)-(13) above nor those appointed to complete the term of a former member, are appointed to full four-year terms or until their successors are appointed. In addition, the current law’s residency requirements are removed under this bill, although this bill requires the governor to strive to ensure, in making appointments, that the membership on the board reflects the geographic diversity of the state. Vacancies must be filled by appointment of the governor. However, this bill requires the commissioner to appoint the director of the division of emergency medical services within the department.<br /> <br /> ON MARCH 23, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 669, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 makes the following revisions to this bill:<br /> <br /> (1) Removes the provision requiring one member of the reconstituted Tennessee emergency medical services board to be an official of a municipality in this state that operates an ambulance service or medical first response service, and instead requires the governor to appoint one rescue squad member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel; and<br /> <br /> (2) Extends the sunset review cycle for the Tennessee emergency medical services board to June 30, 2025.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 13, 2023, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 669 FOR HOUSE BILL 981, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 669, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 incorporates the provisions of Senate Amendment #1 and replaces the member that is a representative who is an administrator of a hospital based-ambulance service who is either a paramedic, EMS-boarded physician, or EMS medical director with a representative who is an administrator from a hospital that operates an ambulance service and is licensed to practice in this state.<br />
Under present law , the Tennessee emergency medical services board consists of 13 members appointed by the governor under the following conditions: <br /> <br /> (1) Two licensed physicians, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested medical groups;<br /> <br /> (2) One registered nurse, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested hospital groups;<br /> <br /> (3) One hospital administrator, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested hospital groups;<br /> <br /> (4) One member who maintains certification or licensure as emergency medical services personnel, registered nurse, or physician and who is also affiliated with a volunteer nonprofit ambulance service;<br /> <br /> (5) Two operators of ambulance services, each of whom maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested ambulance services groups; <br /> <br /> (6) One rescue squad member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel. The rescue squad member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested rescue squad groups;<br /> <br /> (7) One professional firefighter member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel or registered nurse. The professional firefighter member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested firefighter groups; <br /> <br /> (8) One member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel. Such member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested civil defense groups; <br /> <br /> (9) Two officials of county, municipal or metropolitan governments which operate ambulance services; and <br /> <br /> (10) One (1) paramedic instructor from an accredited paramedic program licensed in this state. <br /> <br /> The governor must consult with the interested emergency medical services groups to determine qualified people to fill the positions on the board. Members, except those appointed to complete the term of a former member, must be appointed for a term of four years, or until their successors are appointed. Vacancies must be filled through appointment by the governor, considering the recommendations of the board or interested emergency medical services groups listed in (1)-(10) above. The interested emergency medical services group must submit names that satisfy the residency requirements set out below. Any member who is absent from three consecutive meetings may be removed from the board by the governor or by action of the majority of the board. In making appointments to the board, the governor must strive to ensure that at least one member serving on the board is 60 years of age or older and that at least one person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority. <br /> <br /> As a vacancy occurs or as a term expires, the governor must make appointments so that the board is structured with four members being residents of the eastern, middle, and western grand divisions, respectively, and one member must be an at-large member. <br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the chair, who is elected by the board to certify the actions of the board. The board must meet at the call of the chair and must be convened by the chair for at least two meetings per year, and such other meetings as are necessary to transact the business of the board, or upon receipt of a written request signed by three or more members of the board. Seven members of the board must constitute a quorum for the transaction of meetings. <br /> <br /> Any member who misses more than 50 percent of the scheduled meetings in a calendar year must be removed as a member of the board. The emergency medical services director must promptly notify, or cause to be notified, the appointing authority of any member who fails to satisfy the attendance requirement. The members of the board must be paid a per diem of $50 for attending board meetings and must be reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in attending board meetings, ad hoc committee activities or other travel incurred in the performance of the official duties, in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general. <br /> <br /> The board must keep accurate minutes of the proceedings of all its meetings, a copy of which must be kept on file in the office of the director and open to public inspection. Any administrative services for the board must be provided by the department. <br /> <br /> RECONSTITUTED BOARD<br /> <br /> This bill vacates and reconstitutes the existing membership of the board through appointments by the governor as follows:<br /> <br /> (1) One physician licensed in Tennessee who acts as the medical director of an ambulance service;<br /> <br /> (2) One air-medical registered nurse with an EMS license (emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic) in this state;<br /> <br /> (3) One representative who is an administrator of a hospital-based ambulance service who is either a paramedic, EMS-boarded physician, or EMS medical director;<br /> <br /> (4) One paramedic who is the director of a private ambulance service in this state;<br /> <br /> (5) One paramedic who is the director of a government-based ambulance service in this state;<br /> <br /> (6) One paramedic with medical first response or transport responsibilities who is employed by an ambulance service in Tennessee;<br /> <br /> (7) One administrator with a paramedic license who is employed by a fire service in Tennessee that operates a medical first response service or ambulance service;<br /> <br /> (8) One paramedic with medical first responder or transport responsibilities that is employed by a fire service in Tennessee; <br /> <br /> (9) One official of a county in this state that operates an ambulance service or medical first response service;<br /> <br /> (10) One official of a municipality in this state that operates an ambulance service or medical first response service;<br /> <br /> (11) One program director of an accredited paramedic program taught at an institution of higher education in this state;<br /> <br /> (12) One paramedic that is an instructor, coordinator, or program director for an EMT or paramedic program that is taught at an EMS agency in this state; and <br /> <br /> (13) A paramedic that holds a community paramedicine endorsement in this state, or a paramedic employed by an agency providing mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) services in this state. <br /> <br /> In order to stagger the terms of the newly appointed board members, the governor must make the initial appoints in the following manner:<br /> <br /> (A) The people appointed under (1)-(4) above are appointed for terms of one year, which expire on June 30, 2024; <br /> <br /> (B) The people appointed under (5)-(7) above are appointed for terms of two years, which expire on June 30, 2025;<br /> <br /> (C) The people appointed under (8)-(10) above are appointed for terms of three years, which expire on June 30, 2026; and <br /> <br /> (D) The people appointed under (11)-(13) above are appointed for terms of four years, which expire on June 30, 2027.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes members serving on the board as of June 30, 2023, to be reappointed to serve as members after such date. <br /> <br /> Following the expiration of the members’ initial terms as prescribed in items (A)-(D), all four-year terms begin on July 1, and terminate on June 30, four years thereafter. Members, not appointed under (1)-(13) above nor those appointed to complete the term of a former member, are appointed to full four-year terms or until their successors are appointed. In addition, the current law’s residency requirements are removed under this bill, although this bill requires the governor to strive to ensure, in making appointments, that the membership on the board reflects the geographic diversity of the state. Vacancies must be filled by appointment of the governor. However, this bill requires the commissioner to appoint the director of the division of emergency medical services within the department.<br /> <br /> ON MARCH 23, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 669, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 makes the following revisions to this bill:<br /> <br /> (1) Removes the provision requiring one member of the reconstituted Tennessee emergency medical services board to be an official of a municipality in this state that operates an ambulance service or medical first response service, and instead requires the governor to appoint one rescue squad member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel; and<br /> <br /> (2) Extends the sunset review cycle for the Tennessee emergency medical services board to June 30, 2025.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 13, 2023, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 669 FOR HOUSE BILL 981, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 669, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 incorporates the provisions of Senate Amendment #1 and replaces the member that is a representative who is an administrator of a hospital based-ambulance service who is either a paramedic, EMS-boarded physician, or EMS medical director with a representative who is an administrator from a hospital that operates an ambulance service and is licensed to practice in this state.<br />
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