Nurse Intake Of 911 Calls Grant Program

The act requires the division of homeland security and emergency management in the department of public safety (division), on or before January 1, 2022, to implement a pilot grant program (program) to help finance the use of nurse intake of 911 calls, which involves nurses assisting with 911 dispatch for the purpose of diverting nonurgent 911 calls to medical care that does not require ambulance service or treatment in an emergency room, or the use of a substantially comparable 911 triage system. The division, after reviewing applications, shall designate 4 public safety answering points to participate in the program, one of which is located in a county with 60,000 or more residents and 3 of which are located in a county or counties with fewer than 60,000 residents. To participate in the program, the designated public safety answering points must enter into a contract with an entity that can provide nurses who are trained and equipped to provide nurse intake of 911 calls or operate its own program for nurse intake of 911 calls or a substantially comparable 911 triage system.On or before September 1, 2023, the division shall report to the judiciary committees in the senate and the house of representatives or their successor committees on the program, including reporting on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes and on annual cost savings tied to the program.For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, $865,583 is appropriated from the general fund to the department of public safety for use by the division, based on the assumption that an additional 0.5 FTE will be required. The division may use the appropriation for program administration related to the office of preparedness. The money is further appropriated to the department for the 2022-23 state fiscal year for the same purpose if not fully expended before July 1, 2022.The program is repealed, effective July 1, 2024.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)