Emergency ambulance employees: multithreat body protective gear.

Existing law establishes a statewide system for emergency medical services, through which the Emergency Medical Services Authority is responsible for the coordination and integration of all state activities concerning emergency medical services, including on matters of training, scope of practice, and continuing education for emergency medical technicians and other prehospital personnel. Existing law, the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, imposes safety responsibilities on employers and employees, including requirements that every employer furnish and use safety devices and safeguards, and adopt and use practices that are reasonably adequate to render the employment and place of employment safe and healthful. Existing law makes a violation of those requirements a crime. This bill would, upon request by an emergency ambulance employee, require an emergency ambulance provider to provide that employee with multithreat body protective gear, defined as material or equipment that is worn by an employee and is bullet, strike, slash, and stab resistant, and, for these purposes only, to be considered as part of the above-described safety devices and safeguards. The bill would require the provider, once the provider has obtained the protective gear, to make the protective gear readily available for the requesting employee to use when responding to an emergency call, and to provide training to that employee on the proper fitting and use of the protective gear, as specified. The bill would require an emergency ambulance provider to inform each emergency ambulance employee, upon initial employment and subsequently on an annual basis, of the employee's right to request multithreat body protective gear. By creating new duties for emergency ambulance providers, a violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would not apply to the state or a political subdivision of the state. The bill would require the Emergency Medical Services Authority to develop and establish standards for the protective gear provided, to develop a process of certification for the protective gear, and to develop guidelines for the above-described training, as specified. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.