Emergency medical services: personnel.

Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act, establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) and provides for the certification of emergency medical technicians through the issuance of certificates, including EMT-I and EMT-II certificates, by local entities, known as local EMS agencies, which are designated by counties. Existing law also permits public safety agencies, for public safety personnel, and the State Board of Fire Services, for fire safety personnel, to issue EMT-I certificates. Existing law requires the EMSA to establish EMT-I and EMT-II certification and disciplinary guidelines. Existing law authorizes an EMT-I or EMT-II employer or medical director of a local EMS agency to investigate and discipline those EMT-I and EMT-II employees who commit specified acts. Existing law provides that the medical director of a local EMS agency or the EMSA may deny, suspend, or revoke certificates issued under these provisions, or may place a certificate holder on probation, upon the occurrence of any of specified events. Violation of the act is a misdemeanor. This bill would require the medical director of a local EMS agency to evaluate the good character and rehabilitation of an applicant for a certificate who has a prior criminal conviction before denying a certificate, as specified. By imposing new duties upon local officials, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.