Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 645Introduced by Assembly Member CarrilloFebruary 13, 2025An act to add Section 1797.161 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency medical services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 645, as amended, Carrillo. Emergency medical services: dispatch.Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (act), establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority, which is responsible for the coordination of various state activities concerning emergency medical services (EMS). The act authorizes a county to develop an EMS program by designating a local EMS agency. Existing law also requires the Commission on Emergency Medical Services to review and approve regulations, standards, and guidelines to be developed by the authority. Existing law makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor.This bill would require the authority to develop, and, after approval by the commission, to adopt, minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training, and would require a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator to complete that training. The bill would define a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator for these purposes. By expanding the scope of a crime, and to the extent that the bill would create new duties for a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator, this bill would impose 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act governs the statewide establishment and implementation of the 911-emergency telephone system.This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NOYES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1797.161 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers.
Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 645Introduced by Assembly Member CarrilloFebruary 13, 2025An act to add Section 1797.161 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency medical services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 645, as amended, Carrillo. Emergency medical services: dispatch.Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (act), establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority, which is responsible for the coordination of various state activities concerning emergency medical services (EMS). The act authorizes a county to develop an EMS program by designating a local EMS agency. Existing law also requires the Commission on Emergency Medical Services to review and approve regulations, standards, and guidelines to be developed by the authority. Existing law makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor.This bill would require the authority to develop, and, after approval by the commission, to adopt, minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training, and would require a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator to complete that training. The bill would define a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator for these purposes. By expanding the scope of a crime, and to the extent that the bill would create new duties for a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator, this bill would impose 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act governs the statewide establishment and implementation of the 911-emergency telephone system.This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NOYES
Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025
Amended IN Assembly March 24, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 645
Introduced by Assembly Member CarrilloFebruary 13, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo
February 13, 2025
An act to add Section 1797.161 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency medical services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 645, as amended, Carrillo. Emergency medical services: dispatch.
Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (act), establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority, which is responsible for the coordination of various state activities concerning emergency medical services (EMS). The act authorizes a county to develop an EMS program by designating a local EMS agency. Existing law also requires the Commission on Emergency Medical Services to review and approve regulations, standards, and guidelines to be developed by the authority. Existing law makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor.This bill would require the authority to develop, and, after approval by the commission, to adopt, minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training, and would require a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator to complete that training. The bill would define a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator for these purposes. By expanding the scope of a crime, and to the extent that the bill would create new duties for a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator, this bill would impose 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act governs the statewide establishment and implementation of the 911-emergency telephone system.This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers.
Existing law, the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act (act), establishes the Emergency Medical Services Authority, which is responsible for the coordination of various state activities concerning emergency medical services (EMS). The act authorizes a county to develop an EMS program by designating a local EMS agency. Existing law also requires the Commission on Emergency Medical Services to review and approve regulations, standards, and guidelines to be developed by the authority. Existing law makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor.
This bill would require the authority to develop, and, after approval by the commission, to adopt, minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training, and would require a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator to complete that training. The bill would define a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator for these purposes. By expanding the scope of a crime, and to the extent that the bill would create new duties for a public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator, this bill would impose 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act governs the statewide establishment and implementation of the 911-emergency telephone system.
This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1797.161 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 1797.161 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.
SECTION 1. Section 1797.161 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.
1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.
1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.
1797.161. (a) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt minimum standards for emergency medical dispatcher training.
(b) A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator shall complete emergency medical dispatcher training that complies with the minimum standards adopted by the authority.
(c) For purposes of this section, public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator means an individual employed by a public safety agency, as the initial first responder, whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and nonemergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services by telephone, radio, or other communication device, and includes an individual who promotes from this position and supervises individuals who perform these functions.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
### SEC. 2.
However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require emergency dispatchers to be trained as Emergency Medical Dispatchers.