SB 209: Emergency Medical Services - Utah

Amended 2/13/2025 10:02:182 → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill clarifies which state agencies are responsible for emergency medical services, creates a new funding account for critical needs, and increases the maximum grant amount for rural counties to purchase vehicles. It also strengthens enforcement by giving the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services subpoena power and adding misdemeanor penalties for non-compliance.

Scope change

The bill clarifies that the Department of Public Safety (not Health and Human Services) is the primary agency for emergency medical services, and expands the Bureau's authority to investigate and enforce compliance.

SCOPE

Corrected agency assignments so the Department of Public Safety, not Health and Human Services, leads emergency medical services oversight.

FISCAL

Created a new 'Emergency Medical Services Critical Needs Account' to receive undistributed grant funds and interest earnings.

Increased the maximum vehicle purchase grant amount for rural counties from $100,000 to $200,000.

ENFORCEMENT

Granted the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services subpoena authority and made willful disobedience of subpoenas a class B misdemeanor.

Added the Bureau's disciplinary jurisdiction over training centers.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the administrative notice requirement for training center applications from a standard notice to a class A notice.

TECHNICAL

Updated various definitions and references to clarify the Bureau's role in blood draw permits and other emergency medical service functions.

Amended Excerpts 2/13/2025 10:02:182 → Amended 2/13/2025 10:02:182 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's Emergency Medical Services Act to clarify that 911 ambulance services are essential services, create a new funding account for EMS critical needs, increase vehicle purchase grants for rural counties, and strengthen oversight of training centers and grant administration.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of EMS regulation by establishing new funding mechanisms, clarifying essential service status, and extending bureau authority over training centers and administrative procedures.

FISCAL

Created a new Emergency Medical Services Critical Needs Account to receive undistributed grant funds and contributions.

Increased the maximum allowable vehicle purchase amount for EMS grants in rural counties.

DEFINITION

Established that 911 ambulance services are classified as essential services.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to establish designation requirements for training centers.

ENFORCEMENT

Subjects training centers to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the bureau and requires class A notices for violations.

Makes notices of violation or orders under the EMS Act subject to the Administrative Procedures Act.

TECHNICAL

Corrects references to government agencies and makes technical and conforming corrections throughout the statute.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/13/2025 10:02:182 · 2 edits

MINOR

Senate amendments to SB 209 correct a cross-reference error in the Emergency Medical Services Critical Needs Account funding provisions, changing a citation from Subsection 53-2d-207(3)(i) to 53-2d-207(3)(g). This ensures unallocated grant funds are properly deposited into the account as originally intended. The amendments also add clarifying language regarding how per capita grant distributions relate to the account funding.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a section reference in Section 53-2d-109 from 53-2d-207(3)(i) to 53-2d-207(3)(g) to accurately reflect the statutory provision for depositing unallocated grant funds into the Emergency Medical Services Critical Needs Account.

Added clarifying language in Section 53-2d-207 to specify that per capita grant funds distributed under Subsection (3)(g)(i) are in addition to the amount described in Subsection (3)(b), preventing potential confusion about fund allocation.

Introduced → Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 26, 2025

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes Utah's emergency medical services laws by clarifying agency roles between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Public Safety, creating a new funding account for critical EMS needs, and strengthening enforcement powers for the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.

Scope change

The bill clarifies that the Department of Public Safety (not Health and Human Services) is the primary agency for EMS oversight, while Health and Human Services retains specific public health duties.

AGENCY_ROLES

Transfers primary EMS oversight authority from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Public Safety and its Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.

FISCAL

Creates a new 'Emergency Medical Services Critical Needs Account' to receive undistributed grant funds, interest earnings, and legislative appropriations for critical EMS needs.

Increases the maximum vehicle purchase grant amount for rural counties from $100,000 to $200,000.

ENFORCEMENT

Grants the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services subpoena power and makes willful disobedience a class B misdemeanor.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Bureau to provide a Class A notice (more formal) for certain applications and subjects training centers to Bureau disciplinary jurisdiction.

DEFINITION

Adds new definitions for 'behavioral emergency services' and 'community paramedicine' to clarify service scope.

TECHNICAL

Corrects numerous references to the proper agency (Department of Public Safety instead of Department of Health and Human Services) throughout the code.

Emergency Medical Services

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors