AN ACT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD AND AN EMERGENCY SERVICES POLICY COUNCIL.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD AND AN EMERGENCY SERVICES POLICY COUNCIL.

Starting October 1, 2012, this bill reduces, from 41 to 13, the membership of the Department of Public Health (DPH) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board. By law, board members must serve a term that is coterminus with the appointing authority. The bill includes no provisions to implement the removal of existing members (see COMMENT).

It also requires the DPH Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) to study the establishment of an emergency services policy council and report the results by January 1, 2013 to the Public Health Committee. The report must include recommendations, including those on the council's role in (1) emergency medical technician (EMT) certification and training and (2) the development of emergency services policies, procedures, and clinical protocols.

The bill provides that its provisions do not limit the requirement that a receiving hospital develop and implement a process for patients presented to the hospital through the EMS system.

The bill retains as EMS advisory board members the OEMS director and one member each representing the American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma (Connecticut representative), Emergency Department Nurses Association, Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians, Connecticut Society of EMS Instructors, Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, Connecticut Chiefs of Police, and volunteer ambulance services.

1. the DPH commissioner or her designee;

2. one representative each from the five regional EMS councils;

3. one representative each from the Connecticut Association of Health Directors, Connecticut Medical Advisory Committee, and Connecticut Hospital Association;

4. two representatives from the Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians;

5. two commercial ambulance providers; and

6. one representative each from the Connecticut Firefighters Association, Connecticut State Police, and Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.

1. one member each with experience in municipal and for-profit ambulance services;

2. two members with experience in volunteer ambulance services;

3. one paramedic, EMT, and advanced EMT;

4. three consumers; and

5. four members representing organizations with interests in EMS or other relevant areas.

The bill adds to the board's membership the following members appointed by the governor: (1) one representative from the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, (2) one representative from a regional emergency communications center, and (2) one quality assurance employee each from a hospital with more than 100 beds and less than 100 beds. Table 1 lists the board's membership proposed under the bill.

Member	Appointing Authority
OEMS director	§ 19a-178a
One CT College of Emergency Physicians representative	governor
One CT representative from the American College of Surgeons' Regional Committees on Trauma	governor
One Emergency Nurses Association representative	governor
One CT Association of EMS Instructors representative	governor
One representative each from the CT Police Chiefs and CT Fire Chiefs Associations	governor
One person with volunteer ambulance services experience	governor
One Association of CT Ambulance Providers representative	governor
One representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics CT Chapter	governor
One representative of a regional emergency communications center	governor
One person each working in a quality assurance position at a hospital with (a) up to 100 beds and (b) more than 100 beds	governor

By law, each EMS advisory board member must serve a term that is coterminous with the appointing authority. The bill conflicts with this provision by removing existing board members who are required by law to remain on the board until their appointing authority leaves office.

The EMS Advisory Board reviews and comments on all DPH regulations, medical guidelines, and EMS-related policies before they are implemented. It also assists and advises all state agencies in coordinating the EMS system. By law, the board must annually report to the DPH commissioner and make legislative recommendations to the governor and legislature on legislation it believes will improve EMS delivery.