THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CASORIO, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOYD, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, MICOZZIE, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PETRARCA, PRESTON, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SIPTROTH, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH, WATERS AND WATSON, NOVEMBER 5, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, NOVEMBER 5, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), entitled "An

act relating to the prevention and reduction of premature

death and disability in this Commonwealth; providing for

assistance, coordination and support of the development and

maintenance of a comprehensive emergency medical services

system and for qualifications, eligibility and certification

of emergency medical services personnel and licensing

ambulance services; imposing powers and duties on the

Department of Health; and making repeals," further providing

for emergency medical services personnel.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 11(a) of the act of July 3, 1985

(P.L.164, No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services Act,

amended October 5, 1994 (P.L.557, No.82), is amended to read:

Section 11.  Emergency medical services personnel.

(a)  Education.--The department shall assist, encourage and

coordinate the education of first responders, emergency medical

technicians and EMT-paramedics, who shall be certified by the

department upon successful completion of courses of instruction

recognized by the department and written and practical skill

examinations administered by the department or its designees.

(1)  The department shall develop standards in the form

of rules and regulations for the accreditation of appropriate

educational institutes and shall be empowered to recognize

such institutes as meeting such standards.

(2)  First responder, emergency medical technician and

EMT-paramedic students enrolled in courses recognized by the

department shall be subject to the appropriate liability

exemptions listed in this section, as shall participating

institutes, organizations and facilities pursuant to the

provisions of subsection (j)(3).

(3)  The department shall develop standards to grant

reciprocal certification for persons who served in the United

States Armed Forces as certified medical specialists and

performed duties comparable to first responders, emergency

medical technicians and EMT-paramedics.

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.