Researcher: ND Page 1 4/13/23
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 1229
AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
SUMMARY
This bill makes changes affecting emergency medical services (EMS)
data collection and the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) EMS
Advisory Board.
Current law requires EMS organizations to report to DPH quarterly
on specified EMS call data, including the number of 9-1-1 calls received.
The bill requires organizations to also report the reasons for the calls.
Under existing law, unchanged by the bill, EMS organizations must also
report the (1) level of EMS required for each call; (2) response time; (3)
number of passed, cancelled, and mutual aid calls made and received;
and (4) prehospital data for unscheduled patient transport.
By law, DPH must annually report on the data it collects to the EMS
Advisory Board. Starting June 1, 2024, the bill requires the commissioner
to also annually submit the report to the Public Health Committee.
For the EMS Advisory Board, the bill requires one of the legislative
leaders’ 18 existing appointments to be a person from a Connecticut
association representing paramedics and emergency medical
technicians.
Additionally, the bill expands the advisory board’s responsibilities to
include an annual study of the state’s EMS services, including (1)
analyzing DPH’s annual report on the EMS data, (2) evaluating risk
trends and patterns affecting EMS, and (3) identifying areas of the state
at risk of receiving EMS delays. Starting by January 1, 2024, the advisory
board must annually report on the study to the Public Health
Committee. 2023SB-01229-R000573-BA.DOCX
Researcher: ND Page 2 4/13/23
The bill also requires the advisory board to study and make
recommendations to address the shortage of EMS personnel in the state.
It must report to the Public Health Committee on the study by January
1, 2024.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023, except that the provision
requiring the advisory board to study the EMS personnel shortage takes
effect upon passage.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/27/2023)