Sec. 19a-180. (Formerly Sec. 19-73bb). Ambulance licensure and certification. Suspension or revocation. Records. Penalties. Advertisement. (a) No person
shall operate any ambulance service, rescue service or management service without
either a license or a certificate issued by the commissioner. No person shall operate a
commercial ambulance service or commercial rescue service or a management service
without a license issued by the commissioner. A certificate shall be issued to any volunteer or municipal ambulance service which shows proof satisfactory to the commissioner
that it meets the minimum standards of the commissioner in the areas of training, equipment and personnel. Applicants for a license shall use the forms prescribed by the commissioner and shall submit such application to the commissioner accompanied by an
annual fee of one hundred dollars. In considering requests for approval of permits for
new or expanded emergency medical services in any region, the commissioner shall
consult with the Office of Emergency Medical Services and the emergency medical
services council of such region and shall hold a public hearing to determine the necessity
for such services. Written notice of such hearing shall be given to current providers in
the geographic region where such new or expanded services would be implemented,
provided, any volunteer ambulance service which elects not to levy charges for services
rendered under this chapter shall be exempt from the provisions concerning requests
for approval of permits for new or expanded emergency medical services set forth in
this subsection. Each applicant for licensure shall furnish proof of financial responsibility which the commissioner deems sufficient to satisfy any claim. The commissioner
may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish
satisfactory kinds of coverage and limits of insurance for each applicant for either licensure or certification. Until such regulations are adopted, the following shall be the required limits for licensure: (1) For damages by reason of personal injury to, or the death
of, one person on account of any accident, at least five hundred thousand dollars, and
more than one person on account of any accident, at least one million dollars, (2) for
damage to property at least fifty thousand dollars, and (3) for malpractice in the care of
one passenger at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars, and for more than one passenger at least five hundred thousand dollars. In lieu of the limits set forth in subdivisions
(1) to (3), inclusive, of this subsection, a single limit of liability shall be allowed as
follows: (A) For damages by reason of personal injury to, or death of, one or more
persons and damage to property, at least one million dollars; and (B) for malpractice in
the care of one or more passengers, at least five hundred thousand dollars. A certificate
of such proof shall be filed with the commissioner. Upon determination by the commissioner that an applicant is financially responsible, properly certified and otherwise qualified to operate a commercial ambulance service, the commissioner shall issue a license
effective for one year to such applicant. If the commissioner determines that an applicant
for either a certificate or license is not so qualified, the commissioner shall notify such
applicant of the denial of the application with a statement of the reasons for such denial.
Such applicant shall have thirty days to request a hearing on the denial of the application.
(b) Any person or emergency medical service organization which does not maintain
standards or violates regulations adopted under any section of this chapter applicable
to such person or organization may have such person's or organization's license or
certification suspended or revoked or may be subject to any other disciplinary action
specified in section 19a-17 after notice by certified mail to such person or organization
of the facts or conduct which warrant the intended action. Such person or emergency
medical service organization shall have an opportunity to show compliance with all
requirements for the retention of such certificate or license. In the conduct of any investigation by the commissioner of alleged violations of the standards or regulations adopted
under the provisions of this chapter, the commissioner may issue subpoenas requiring
the attendance of witnesses and the production by any medical service organization or
person of reports, records, tapes or other documents which concern the allegations under
investigation. All records obtained by the commissioner in connection with any such
investigation shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1-210 for a period of six
months from the date of the petition or other event initiating such investigation, or until
such time as the investigation is terminated pursuant to a withdrawal or other informal
disposition or until a hearing is convened pursuant to chapter 54, whichever is earlier.
A complaint, as defined in subdivision (6) of section 19a-13, shall be subject to the
provisions of section 1-210 from the time that it is served or mailed to the respondent.
Records which are otherwise public records shall not be deemed confidential merely
because they have been obtained in connection with an investigation under this chapter.
(c) Any person or emergency medical service organization aggrieved by an act or
decision of the commissioner regarding certification or licensure may appeal in the
manner provided by chapter 54.
(d) Any person guilty of any of the following acts shall be fined not more than two
hundred fifty dollars, or imprisoned not more than three months, or be both fined and
imprisoned: (1) In any application to the commissioner or in any proceeding before or
investigation made by the commissioner, knowingly making any false statement or
representation, or, with knowledge of its falsity, filing or causing to be filed any false
statement or representation in a required application or statement; (2) issuing, circulating
or publishing or causing to be issued, circulated or published any form of advertisement
or circular for the purpose of soliciting business which contains any statement that is
false or misleading, or otherwise likely to deceive a reader thereof, with knowledge that
it contains such false, misleading or deceptive statement; (3) giving or offering to give
anything of value to any person for the purpose of promoting or securing ambulance or
rescue service business or obtaining favors relating thereto; (4) administering or causing
to be administered, while serving in the capacity of an employee of any licensed ambulance or rescue service, any alcoholic liquor to any patient in such employee's care,
except under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician; (5) in any respect
wilfully violating or failing to comply with any provision of this chapter or wilfully
violating, failing, omitting or neglecting to obey or comply with any regulation, order,
decision or license, or any part or provisions thereof; (6) with one or more other persons,
conspiring to violate any license or order issued by the commissioner or any provision
of this chapter.
(e) No person shall place any advertisement or produce any printed matter that holds
that person out to be an ambulance service unless such person is licensed or certified
pursuant to this section. Any such advertisement or printed matter shall include the
license or certificate number issued by the commissioner.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 9, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 7, 18; 75-140; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-480, S. 2, 3; P.A. 81-259, S.
2, 3; 81-472, S. 47, 159; P.A. 85-585, S. 2; P.A. 86-59, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-172, S. 1; P.A. 90-172, S. 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39;
P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-271, S. 37; P.A. 98-195, S. 8; P.A. 00-151, S. 5, 14.)
History: P.A. 75-112 replaced commission on hospitals and health care with commissioner of health, transferred duty
to establish regulations re insurance coverage and limits in Subsec. (a) and subpoena power in Subsec. (b) from office of
emergency medical services to commissioner of health, exempted volunteer ambulance or rescue services from requirement
of furnishing proof of financial responsibility in licensure application under Subsec. (a) and required issuance of temporary
permits on or before December 1, 1975, in Subsec. (d); P.A. 75-140 inserted new Subdivs. (3) and (4) in Subsec. (e) re
gift or offer of gift of value to promote or secure ambulance or rescue service business and re administering alcoholic
liquor to patient except as directed by physician and renumbered former Subdivs. (3) and (4) accordingly; P.A. 77-614
replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-480 added
provisions in Subsec. (a) re hearing procedure requests for approval of permits for new or expanded emergency medical
services; P.A. 81-259 amended Subsec. (a) to conform with the definitions contained in Subsecs. (q), (r) and (s); P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; Sec. 19-73bb transferred to Sec. 19a-180 in 1983; P.A. 85-585 added provisions in Subsec.
(b) re the confidentiality of investigations by the commission; P.A. 86-59 amended Subsec. (a) to increase the required
insurance limits for licensure of any commercial ambulance or rescue service as follows: (1) Personal injury, from one
hundred to five hundred thousand dollars for one person, and from three hundred thousand to one million dollars for more
than one person; (2) property damage, from twenty-five to fifty thousand dollars; and (3) malpractice, from one hundred
to two hundred fifty thousand dollars for one person, and from three hundred to five hundred thousand dollars for more
than one person and to establish single liability limits of one million dollars for personal injury and five hundred thousand
dollars for malpractice; P.A. 88-172 amended Subsec. (b) by adding the reference to "any other disciplinary action specified
in Sec. 19a-17" and made technical changes; P.A. 90-172 added the references to a management service and made technical
changes; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-271 added Subsec. (f) re advertisements
or printed matter; P.A. 98-195 transferred from the Office of Emergency Medical Services to the Commissioner of Public
Health responsibility for authority over ambulance services, made adoption of regulations discretionary rather than mandatory, deleted obsolete former Subsec. (d) relettering remaining sections accordingly and made technical changes (Revisor's
note: In codifying this section, two erroneous references in Subsec. (b) to "section 1-16" were deemed by the Revisors to
be "section 1-19", as they had been prior to a technical error in P.A. 98-195, and therefore codified as "section 1-210"
since section 1-19 was transferred to that number in 1999); P.A. 00-151 made technical changes, effective July 1, 2000.
Cited. 242 C. 152.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 242 C. 152.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 242 C. 152.
Sec. 19a-181. (Formerly Sec. 19-73cc). Registration of ambulance or rescue
vehicles. Suspension or revocation of registration certificates. (a) Each ambulance
or rescue vehicle used by an ambulance or rescue service shall be registered with the
Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to chapter 246. Said Department of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a certificate of registration for any such ambulance or rescue vehicle
unless the applicant for such certificate of registration presents to said department a
safety certificate from the Commissioner of Public Health certifying that said ambulance
or rescue vehicle has been inspected and has met the minimum standards prescribed by
the commissioner. Each vehicle so registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles
shall be inspected once every two years thereafter by the Commissioner of Public Health
on or before the anniversary date of the issuance of the certificate of registration. Each
inspector, upon determining that such ambulance or rescue vehicle meets the standards
of safety and equipment prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, shall affix
a safety certificate to such vehicle in such manner and form as the commissioner designates, and such sticker shall be so placed as to be readily visible to any person in the
rear compartment of such vehicle.
(b) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend or revoke the certificate of
registration of any vehicle inspected under the provisions of this section upon certification from the Commissioner of Public Health that such ambulance or rescue vehicle has
failed to meet the minimum standards prescribed by said commissioner.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 10, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 8, 18; P.A. 98-195, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 75-112 replaced references to standards of office of emergency services and commission on hospitals
and health care with references to standards of commissioner; Sec. 19-73cc transferred to Sec. 19a-181 in 1983; (Revisor's
note: In 1995 the word "Medical" was added editorially by the Revisors to correct reference to "Office of Emergency
Services" and in 1997 references throughout the general statutes to "Motor Vehicle(s) Commissioner" and "Motor Vehicle(s) Department" were replaced editorially by the Revisors with "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles" or "Department of
Motor Vehicles", as the case may be, for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 98-195 transferred authority
over ambulance services from the Office of Emergency Medical Services to the Commissioner of Public Health.
Sec. 19a-181a. Indemnification of emergency medical technician instructors.
The state shall save harmless and indemnify any person certified as an emergency medical technician instructor by the Department of Public Health under this chapter from
financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any
claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or other act resulting
in personal injury or property damage, which acts are not wanton, reckless or malicious,
provided such person at the time of the acts resulting in such injury or damage was
acting in the discharge of his duties in providing emergency medical technician training
and instruction.
(P.A. 89-278, S. 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 19a-181b. Local emergency medical services plan. (a) Not later than July
1, 2002, each municipality shall establish a local emergency medical services plan. Such
plan shall include the written agreements or contracts developed between the municipality, its emergency medical services providers and the public safety answering point, as
defined in section 28-25, that covers the municipality. The plan shall also include, but
not be limited to, the following:
(1) The identification of levels of emergency medical services, including, but not
limited to: (A) The public safety answering point responsible for receiving emergency
calls and notifying and assigning the appropriate provider to a call for emergency medical services; (B) the emergency medical services provider that is notified for initial
response; (C) basic ambulance service; (D) advanced life support level; and (E) mutual
aid call arrangements;
(2) The name of the person or entity responsible for carrying out each level of
emergency medical services that the plan identifies;
(3) The establishment of performance standards for each segment of the municipality's emergency medical services system; and
(4) Any subcontracts, written agreements or mutual aid call agreements that emergency medical services providers may have with other entities to provide services identified in the plan.
(b) In developing the plan required by subsection (a) of this section, each municipality: (1) May consult with and obtain the assistance of its regional emergency medical
services council established pursuant to section 19a-183, its regional emergency medical
services coordinator appointed pursuant to section 19a-185, its regional emergency medical services medical advisory committees and any sponsor hospital, as defined in regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-179, located in the area identified in the plan; and
(2) shall submit the plan to its regional emergency medical services council for the
council's review and comment.
(P.A. 00-151, S. 9, 14.)
History: P.A. 00-151 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 19a-181c. Removal of responder. (a) As used in this section, "responder"
means any primary service area responder that (1) is notified for initial response, (2) is
responsible for the provision of basic life support service, or (3) is responsible for the
provision of service above basic life support that is intensive and complex prehospital
care consistent with acceptable emergency medical practices under the control of physician and hospital protocols.
(b) Any municipality may petition the commissioner for the removal of a responder.
A petition may be made (1) at any time if based on an allegation that an emergency
exists and that the safety, health and welfare of the citizens of the affected primary
service area are jeopardized by the responder's performance, or (2) not more often than
once every three years, if based on the unsatisfactory performance of the responder
as determined based on the local emergency medical services plan established by the
municipality pursuant to section 19a-181b and associated agreements or contracts. A
hearing on a petition under this section shall be deemed to be a contested case and held
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(c) If, after a hearing authorized by this section, the commissioner determines that
(1) an emergency exists and the safety, health and welfare of the citizens of the affected
primary service area are jeopardized by the responder's performance, (2) the performance of the responder is unsatisfactory based on the local emergency medical services
plan established by the municipality pursuant to section 19-181b and associated
agreements or contracts, or (3) it is in the best interests of patient care, the commissioner
may revoke the primary service area responder's primary service area assignment and
require the chief administrative official of the municipality in which the primary service
area is located to submit a plan acceptable to the commissioner for the alternative provision of primary service area responder responsibilities, or may issue an order for the
alternative provision of emergency medical services, or both.
(P.A. 00-151, S. 10, 14.)
History: P.A. 00-151 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 19a-181d. Hearing re performance standards. (a) Any municipality may
petition the commissioner to hold a hearing if the municipality cannot reach a written
agreement with its primary service area responder concerning performance standards.
The commissioner shall conduct such hearing not later than ninety days from the date
the commissioner receives the municipality's petition. A hearing on a petition under
this section shall not be deemed to be a contested case for purposes of chapter 54.
(b) In conducting a hearing authorized by this section, the commissioner shall determine if the performance standards adopted in the municipality's local emergency medical services plan are reasonable based on the state-wide plan for the coordinated delivery
of emergency medical services adopted pursuant to subdivision (1) of section 19a-177,
model local emergency medical services plans and the standards, contracts and written
agreements in use by municipalities of similar population and characteristics.
(c) If, after a hearing authorized by this section, the commissioner determines that
the performance standards adopted in the municipality's local emergency medical services plan are reasonable, the primary service area responder shall have thirty calendar
days in which to agree to such performance standards. If the primary service area responder fails or refuses to agree to such performance standards, the commissioner may
revoke the primary service area responder's primary service area assignment and require
the chief administrative official of the municipality in which the primary service area
is located to submit a plan acceptable to the commissioner for the alternative provision of
primary service area responder responsibilities, or may issue an order for the alternative
provision of emergency medical services, or both.
(d) If, after a hearing authorized by this section, the commissioner determines that
the performance standards adopted in the municipality's local emergency medical services plan are unreasonable, the commissioner shall provide performance standards
considered reasonable based on the state-wide plan for the coordinated delivery of emergency medical services adopted pursuant to subdivision (1) of section 19a-177, model
emergency medical services plans and the standards, contracts and written agreements
in use by municipalities of similar population and characteristics. If the municipality
refuses to agree to such performance standards, the primary service area responder shall
meet the minimum performance standards provided in regulations adopted pursuant to
section 19a-179.
(P.A. 00-151, S. 11, 14.)
History: P.A. 00-151 effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 19a-181e. Pilot program for municipal selection of emergency medical
services provider based on issuance of requests for proposals. (a) Not later than
February 1, 2001, the Commissioner of Public Health shall submit to the joint standing
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public
health a plan of action for the implementation of a pilot program, in not more than two
municipalities that consent to participate in such pilot program, to assess the effect of
assigning a primary service area to a selected provider of emergency medical services
based on the issuance of requests for proposals with a right of first refusal granted to
the provider that holds the primary service area at the time of such issuance. The plan
of action shall identify the elements of and the means of implementing the pilot program,
including, but not limited to: (1) The procedure for selection of the participating municipalities; (2) the design and measurement of standards for the pilot program; (3) the
identification of emergency service factors to be assessed; (4) the identification of the
evaluating entity; and (5) the estimated time period for the implementation and completion of the pilot program. The commissioner shall hold a public hearing on the plan of
action prior to such submission. The joint standing committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to public health shall meet to consider the plan
of action not later than sixty days after the date of its submission. If the plan of action
is rejected by the committee, the commissioner shall submit a revised plan of action not
later than ninety days after the date of such rejection. The committee shall approve a
plan of action or amend and approve a plan of action not later than February 1, 2002.
(b) Unless otherwise modified or rejected by the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, the pilot program shall begin on October 1, 2005. The pilot program shall, at a minimum, establish:
(1) An appropriate time frame within the expiration of a participating municipality's
current emergency medical services contract for the initial issuance of requests for proposals and the initial selection of a provider of emergency medical services by the participating municipality under the pilot program, provided this subdivision shall not be construed to prevent a participating municipality from selecting or otherwise renewing any
contract with its current provider of emergency medical services;
(2) An appropriate time period from the date of initial selection under subdivision
(1) of this subsection after which a participating municipality may solicit requests for
proposals from alternative providers of emergency medical services, provided such time
period shall be reasonably sufficient to permit the initial provider to recoup any investment made for the purpose of providing emergency medical services in the participating
municipality, but shall not exceed eight years;
(3) Criteria for selection and approval of an alternative provider of emergency medical services that submits a bona fide proposal, including, but not limited to, (A) a right
of first refusal, granted to the provider that holds the primary service area at the time
the requests for proposals are issued, that may be exercised by such provider if such
provider makes a bona fide offer matching the proposal submitted by the selected alternative provider, (B) a requirement for approval by the legislative body of the participating
municipality by a greater than majority vote, and (C) approval of any such selected
alternative provider by the commissioner as appropriate to protect the public health and
safety; and
(4) Requirements, including a time frame, for reporting the status and results of
the pilot program, and the recommendations of the commissioner with respect to the
continuation or expansion of the pilot program, to the joint standing committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the termination of any
contract in effect on the date the pilot program begins or to otherwise interfere with any
rights or duties created by any such contract.
(P.A. 00-135, S. 17, 21; 00-151, S. 12, 14.)
History: P.A. 00-151 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) by adding requirement that plan of action
be approved or amended and approved not later than February 1, 2002, effective July 1, 2000.
Sec. 19a-182. (Formerly Sec. 19-73dd). Emergency medical services councils.
Plans for delivery of services. (a) The emergency medical services councils shall be
the area-wide planning and coordinating agencies for emergency medical services and
shall provide continuous evaluation of emergency medical services for their respective
geographic areas.
(b) Each emergency medical services council shall develop and revise every five
years a plan for the delivery of emergency medical services in its area, using a format
established by the Office of Emergency Medical Services. Each council shall submit
an annual update for each regional plan to the Office of Emergency Medical Services
detailing accomplishments made toward plan implementation. Such plan shall include
an evaluation of the current effectiveness of emergency medical services and detail the
needs for the future, and shall contain specific goals for the delivery of emergency
medical services within their respective geographic areas, a time frame for achievement
of such goals, cost data for the development of such goals, and performance standards
for the evaluation of such goals. Special emphasis in such plan shall be placed upon
coordinating the existing services into a comprehensive system. Such plan shall contain
provisions for, but shall not be limited to, the following: (1) Clearly defined geographic
regions to be serviced by each provider including cooperative arrangements with other
providers and backup services; (2) an adequate number of trained personnel for staffing
of ambulances, communications facilities and hospital emergency rooms, with emphasis
on former military personnel trained in allied health fields; (3) a communications system
that includes a central dispatch center, two-way radio communication between the ambulance and the receiving hospital and a universal emergency telephone number; and (4)
a public education program that stresses the need for adequate training in basic lifesaving
techniques and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Such plan shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Health no later than June thirtieth each year the plan is due.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 11, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 9, 18; P.A. 77-268, S. 4; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 87-420, S. 5, 14; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-195, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 75-112 required submission of plan to commissioner of health rather than to commission on hospitals
and health care in Subsec. (b); P.A. 77-268 replaced "comprehensive health planning "b' agency" with "health systems
agency" and required annual revision of plan and submission of revision annually, replacing previous provisions which
had set deadlines for initial development of plan and initial report; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with
commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-73dd transferred to Sec. 19a-182 in 1983; P.A. 87-420 substituted "emergency medical services councils" for "health systems agencies", deleted provision re performance
of health systems agency's functions, and substituted June thirtieth for December thirty-first re submission of plan; P.A.
93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-195 amended Subsec. (b) to require revision of plan
every five years rather than annually, to require format established by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and to
require the council to submit annual updates on progress toward plan implementation.
Annotation to former section 19-73dd:
Cited. 35 CS 136, 143.
Sec. 19a-183. (Formerly Sec. 19-73ee). Regional emergency medical services
councils. There shall be established an emergency medical services council in each
region. A region shall be composed of the towns so designated by the commissioner.
Opportunity for membership shall be available to all appropriate representatives of
emergency medical services including, but not limited to, one representative from each
of the following: (1) Local governments; (2) fire and law enforcement officials; (3)
medical and nursing professions, including mental health, paraprofessional and other
allied health professionals; (4) providers of ambulance services, at least one of which
shall be a member of a volunteer ambulance association; (5) institutions of higher education; (6) federal agencies involved in the delivery of health care; and (7) consumers. All
emergency medical services councils, including those in existence on July 1, 1974, shall
submit to the commissioner information concerning the organizational structure and
council bylaws for the commissioner's approval. The commissioner shall foster the
development of emergency medical services councils in each region.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 12, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 10, 18; P.A. 77-268, S. 5; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 87-420, S. 6, 14; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 00-27, S. 17, 24.)
History: P.A. 75-112 replaced commission on hospitals and health care with commissioner of health; P.A. 77-268
replaced "comprehensive health planning agency" with "health system agency"; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of
health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-73ee transferred to Sec. 19a-183 in 1983;
P.A. 87-420 redefined the composition of a region and made technical changes; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health
services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner
and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective
July 1, 1995; P.A. 00-27 made technical changes, effective May 1, 2000.
Annotation to former section 19-73ee:
Cited. 35 CS 136, 138. Cited. 37 CS 124, 128.
Sec. 19a-184. (Formerly Sec. 19-73ff). Functions of regional emergency medical services councils. (a) Each emergency medical services council shall (1) forward
to the Commissioner of Public Health the emergency medical services plan for its region,
and (2) review and within sixty days forward to the commissioner, together with its
recommendations, all grant and contract applications for federal and state funds pertaining to emergency medical services from the following entities within its region: (A)
A unit of local government, (B) a public entity administering a compact or other regional
arrangement or consortium, or (C) any other public entity or any nonprofit private
agency.
(b) The chairpersons, or their designees, of said councils shall meet as a group, at
least bimonthly, with the Office of Emergency Medical Services to discuss the planning,
coordination and implementation of the state-wide emergency medical care service
system.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 13, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 11, 18; P.A. 77-268, S. 6; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 87-420, S. 7, 14; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-195, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 75-112 replaced commission on hospitals and health care with commissioner of health; P.A. 77-268
replaced "b" agencies with "health systems" agencies and added Subsec. (c) re monthly meetings of council chairpersons
and director of office of emergency medical services; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner
of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-73ff transferred to Sec. 19a-184 in 1983; P.A. 87-420 deleted all
references to health systems agencies, the thirty-day limit for review and the provision requiring comments from the
emergency medical services council; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-195 amended
Subsec. (b) by deleting "the director of" before "Office of Emergency Medical Services".
Sec. 19a-185. (Formerly Sec. 19-73gg). Regional emergency medical services
coordinators; appointment. There shall be a regional emergency medical services
coordinator in each region who shall be appointed by the emergency medical services
council or councils within the region subject to the approval of the commissioner. In
those regions where no emergency medical services council exists such coordinator
shall be appointed by the commissioner.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 14, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 12, 18; P.A. 77-268, S. 7; P.A. 87-420, S. 8, 14.)
History: P.A. 75-112 replaced "commission", i.e. commission on hospitals and health care, with "commissioner", i.e.
commissioner of health; P.A. 77-268 replaced "b" agencies with "health systems" agencies; P.A. 77-614 made "commissioner" refer to commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-73gg transferred to Sec. 19a-185 in
1983; P.A. 87-420 deleted references to health systems agencies.
Sec. 19a-186. (Formerly Sec. 19-73hh). Functions of regional emergency medical services coordinators. The regional emergency medical services coordinator shall
be responsible for: (1) Facilitating the work of the emergency medical services council
in developing the plan for the coordination of emergency medical services within the
region, (2) implementation of the regional plan formulated by the emergency medical
services council pursuant to subsection (b) of section 19a-182, (3) continuous monitoring and evaluation of all emergency medical services in that region and (4) making a
complete inventory of all personnel, facilities and equipment within the region related
to the delivery of emergency medical services pursuant to guidelines established by the
Commissioner of Public Health.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 15, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 13, 18; P.A. 77-268, S. 8; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 87-420, S. 9, 14; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 75-112 replaced commission on hospitals and health care with commissioner of health; P.A. 77-268
replaced "b" agencies with "health systems" agencies; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner
of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-73hh transferred to Sec. 19a-186 in 1983; P.A. 87-420 substituted
"emergency medical services council" for "health systems agencies"; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services
with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner
and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective
July 1, 1995.
Sec. 19a-187. (Formerly Sec. 19-73ii). Cooperation of state agencies. Advice
and consultation by The University of Connecticut Health Center. (a) All state
agencies which are concerned with the emergency medical service delivery system shall,
to the fullest extent consistent with their authorities under state law administered by
them, carry out programs under their control in such a manner as to further the policy
of establishing a coordinated state-wide emergency medical service system.
(b) All such state agencies shall cooperate with the Office of Emergency Medical
Services, and the regional emergency medical service coordinators and emergency medical services councils in developing the state emergency medical services program under
this chapter.
(c) All state agencies concerned with the state-wide emergency medical services
system shall cooperate with the appropriate agencies of the United States or of other
states or interstate agencies with respect to the planning and coordination of emergency
medical services.
(d) The Commissioner of Public Health and the trustees of The University of Connecticut may contract for the provision of medical advice and consultation by The University of Connecticut Health Center to the Office of Emergency Medical Services. This
subsection shall not affect the responsibilities of said University and health center under
subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section.
(P.A. 74-305, S. 16, 19; P.A. 75-112, S. 14, 18; P.A. 77-268, S. 9; 77-614, S. 323, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136;
P.A. 87-420, S. 10, 14; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 75-112 deleted requirement that agencies cooperate with commission on hospitals and health care in
Subsec. (b); P.A. 77-268 replaced "b" agencies with "health systems" agencies in Subsec. (b) and added Subsec. (d) re
contracts between commissioner of health and University of Connecticut trustees; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced
commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-73ii transferred to Sec. 19a-187 in 1983; P.A. 87-420 deleted reference to health systems agencies in Subsec. (b); P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of
health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; (Revisor's note: In 1995
in Subsec. (d) of words "the health center of said University" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "The University
of Connecticut Health Center" for consistency with other statutory references); P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and
Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July
1, 1995.
Sec. 19a-188. (Formerly Sec. 19-73jj). Transfer of staff and funds. All existing
staff, equipment and office supplies and all budgeted funds for the Emergency Medical
Services Division of the Commission on Hospitals and Health Care are hereby transferred to and made part of the Office of Emergency Medical Services.
(P.A. 75-112, S. 15, 18; P.A. 95-257, S. 39, 58.)
History: Sec. 19-73jj transferred to Sec. 19a-188 in 1983; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health
Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995 (Revisor's note: This section took effect on May 16, 1975,
and since its provisions are obsolete the Revisors did not change the reference to the former Commission on Hospitals and
Health Care).
Secs. 19a-189 to 19a-192. (Formerly Secs. 19-73kk to 19-73nn). Definitions.
Municipal contracts with volunteer ambulance companies; residence requirements. Volunteer ambulance personnel compensated under chapter 568; hypertension or heart disease presumptions. Benefits for volunteers serving another ambulance company. Sections 19a-189 to 19a-192, inclusive, are repealed, effective July
1, 1997.
(P.A. 75-102, S. 1-4; P.A. 77-502, S. 2; P.A. 79-376, S. 22, 23; P.A. 81-279; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 87, 88.)
Sec. 19a-192a. Transferred to Chapter 447, Sec. 23-14a.
Sec. 19a-193. Transferred to Chapter 384d, Sec. 20-206jj.
Sec. 19a-194. (Formerly Sec. 19-73pp). Motorcycle rescue vehicles. (a) A motorcycle equipped to handle medical emergencies shall be deemed a rescue vehicle for
the purposes of section 19a-181. The commissioner shall issue a safety certificate to
such motorcycle upon examination of such vehicle and a determination that such motorcycle (1) is in satisfactory mechanical condition, (2) is as safe to operate as the average
motorcycle, and (3) is equipped with such emergency medical equipment as may be
required by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54 specifying the equipment a motorcycle must carry to operate as a rescue
vehicle pursuant to this section. Such equipment shall include those items that would
enable an emergency medical technician, paramedic or other individual similarly trained
to render to a person requiring emergency medical assistance the maximum benefit
possible from the operation of such motorcycle rescue vehicle.
(P.A. 78-156, S. 1; P.A. 98-195, S. 12.)
History: Sec. 19-73pp transferred to Sec. 19a-194 in 1983; P.A. 98-195 transferred authority over motorcycle rescue
vehicles from the director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services to the Commissioner of Public Health, and made
regulations discretionary rather than mandatory.
Sec. 19a-195. Regulations re staffing of emergency medical response vehicles.
The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter
54 to require all emergency medical response services to be staffed by at least one
certified emergency medical technician, who shall be in the patient compartment attending the patient during all periods in which a patient is being transported, and one
certified medical response technician.
(P.A. 81-260.)
Sec. 19a-195a. Regulations re recertification and state-wide standardization
of certification. (a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to provide that any person who has completed
six years of continuous service as an emergency medical services technician shall be
recertified every three years rather than every two years. For the purpose of maintaining
an acceptable level of proficiency, each emergency medical services technician who is
recertified for a three-year period shall complete twenty-five hours of refresher training
approved by the commissioner at intervals not to exceed thirty-six months.
(b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, to (1) provide for state-wide standardization of certification for each class
of (A) emergency medical technicians, including, but not limited to, paramedics, (B)
emergency medical services instructors, and (C) medical response technicians, (2) allow
course work for such certification to be taken state-wide, and (3) allow persons so certified to perform within their scope of certification state-wide.
(P.A. 83-240; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-170; P.A. 00-135, S. 6, 21.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-170 designated existing
provisions as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) requiring regulations re state-wide standardization of certification
for "emergency medical technician-intermediate"; P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by deleting reference to emergency
medical technician-intermediate and adding provisions re emergency medical technicians, including paramedics, emergency medical services instructors and medical response technicians, effective May 26, 2000.
Sec. 19a-195b. Reinstatement of expired certification. Validity of expired certificate. (a) Any person certified as an emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-intermediate, medical response technician or emergency medical services
instructor pursuant to this chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-179 whose certification has expired may apply to the Department of Public Health for
reinstatement of such certification as follows: (1) If such certification expired one year
or less from the date of application for reinstatement, such person shall complete the
requirements for recertification specified in regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-179, as such recertification regulations may be from time to time amended; (2) if such
certification expired more than one year but less than three years from the date of application for reinstatement, such person shall complete the training required for recertification
and the examination required for initial certification specified in regulations adopted
pursuant to section 19a-179, as such training and examination regulations may be from
time to time amended; or (3) if such certification expired three or more years from the
date of application for reinstatement, such person shall complete the requirements for
initial certification specified in regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-179, as such
initial certification regulations may be from time to time amended.
(b) Any certificate issued pursuant to this chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-179 which expires on or after January 1, 2001, shall remain valid for
ninety days after the expiration date of such certificate. Any such certificate shall become
void upon the expiration of such ninety-day period.
(P.A. 01-1, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 01-1 effective February 7, 2001.
Sec. 19a-196. Complaints against emergency medical services councils, hearings and appeals (a) For purposes of this section and sections 19a-196a and 19a-196b,
"municipality" means any town, city or borough, whether consolidated or unconsolidated.
(b) For purposes of this section, the Commissioner of Public Health may appoint
hearing officers to investigate complaints filed pursuant to this section.
(c) Any municipality aggrieved by any action of an emergency medical service
council may file a written complaint with the commissioner describing such action and
shall mail a copy of such complaint to the party that is the subject of the complaint. Any
complaint filed pursuant to this section shall be filed not later than one hundred eighty
days after the alleged act. Upon receipt of a properly filed complaint, the commissioner
shall refer such complaint to a hearing officer appointed to investigate such complaints.
The hearing officer shall, after investigation and not later than ninety days after the date
of such referral, either (1) make a report to the commissioner recommending dismissal of
the complaint or (2) issue an official written complaint charging the emergency medical
service council with the appropriate violation. Upon receiving a report from the officer
recommending dismissal of the complaint, the commissioner may issue an order dismissing the complaint or may order a further investigation or a hearing thereon. Upon
receiving a complaint issued by the officer, the commissioner shall set a time and place
for the hearing. The hearing shall be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter
54. If no such report or complaint is issued, the commissioner may, in his discretion,
proceed to a hearing upon the party's original complaint in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(d) A final decision shall be in writing and shall include any findings of fact and
conclusions of law necessary to the commissioner's decision. Findings of fact shall be
based exclusively on the evidence in the record. The final decision shall be delivered
promptly to each party or his authorized representative, personally or by United States
mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. The final decision
shall be effective when personally delivered or mailed.
(e) A municipality aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner pursuant to this
section may appeal therefrom to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions
of section 4-183.
(P.A. 95-198, S. 1; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-195, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-195 transferred authority over complaints against
council from the director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services to the Commissioner of Public Health, and made
technical changes.
Sec. 19a-196a. Termination of services to municipalities restricted. No emergency medical service council or emergency communication system shall terminate
service to any municipality which participates in such council or system or which is a
member of an agency or regional emergency medical service council which participates
in such council or system for nonpayment of a disputed bill during the pendency of
any complaint, investigation, hearing or appeal involving such dispute, provided the
subscriber shall pay the amount of any current and undisputed bills during such pendency.
(P.A. 95-198, S. 2.)
Sec. 19a-196b. Response to calls from other municipalities. Each emergency
medical service council and emergency medical service system shall respond to and
honor calls from any municipality which participates in another emergency medical
service council or emergency communication system or which is a member of an agency
which participates in such council or system.
(P.A. 95-198, S. 3.)
Sec. 19a-197. Automatic external defibrillators. Registry established. Regulations. Simultaneous communication with physician not required. (a) Any person in
possession of an automatic external defibrillator shall provide notice of the location of
such automatic external defibrillator to the Office of Emergency Medical Services.
(b) The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall establish a registry of automatic external defibrillators located within the state and shall establish a procedure
facilitating the use of the enhanced 9-1-1 service, as defined in section 28-25, for the
location of such automatic external defibrillator nearest to the caller.
(c) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(d) No paramedic shall be required to be in simultaneous communication with a
licensed physician when using an automatic external defibrillator in the practice of
paramedicine, as defined in section 20-206jj.
(P.A. 98-62, S. 3; P.A. 00-47, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 00-47 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (b) and (c), and added new Subsec. (d) providing that
simultaneous communication with a physician is not required for automatic external defibrillator use in the practice of
paramedicine.
Sec. 19a-197a. Administration of epinephrine. (a) As used in this section, "emergency medical technician" means (1) any class of emergency medical technician certified under regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-179, including, but not limited
to, any emergency medical technician-intermediate, and (2) any paramedic licensed
pursuant to section 20-206ll.
(b) Any emergency medical technician who has been trained, in accordance with
national standards recognized by the Commissioner of Public Health, in the administration of epinephrine using automatic prefilled cartridge injectors or similar automatic
injectable equipment and who functions in accordance with written protocols and the
standing orders of a licensed physician serving as an emergency department director
may administer epinephrine using such injectors or equipment. All emergency medical
technicians shall receive such training. All licensed or certified ambulances shall be
equipped with epinephrine in such injectors or equipment which may be administered
in accordance with written protocols and standing orders of a licensed physician serving
as an emergency department director.
(P.A. 00-135, S. 16, 21.)
History: P.A. 00-135 effective January 1, 2001.