HLS 18RS-782 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 546
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEBAS
HEALTH/EMERG MED SERVICE: Amends provisions of law regarding emergency
medical response vehicles
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1135.1(A)(3) and 1135.2(B)(1), relative to emergency
3 medical response vehicles; to provide for qualifications to operate emergency
4 medical response vehicles; to provide for qualifications to operate ambulances; to
5 provide for the duties of the Louisiana Department of Health; to provide for the
6 duties of the Health Standards Subcommittee of the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance;
7 and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 40:1135.1(A)(3) and 1135.2(B)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted
10to read as follows:
11 §1135.1. Qualifications to operate ambulances; equipment; penalty
12 A.
13 * * *
14 (3)(a) The Louisiana Department of Health shall establish promulgate rules
15 and regulations establishing a list of required medical and safety equipment which
16 shall be carried as part of the regular equipment of every ambulance. This list shall
17 be based upon the recommendations to the Louisiana Department of Health from the
18 Health Standards Subcommittee of the Louisiana Ambulance Alliance. The
19 Louisiana Department of Health shall distribute this list to every licensed ambulance
20 service within thirty days of adoption and thirty days after each subsequent adoption
21 as the list is updated. No person shall conduct, maintain, or operate an ambulance
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HB NO. 546
1 which does not carry with it, in fully operational condition, all of the equipment
2 included in the list, which shall be consistent with the scope of practice for
3 emergency medical technicians established in R.S. 40:1133.14. For the purpose of
4 this Section, "ambulance" shall have the same meaning as provided for in R.S.
5 40:1131(3).
6 (b) After its initial establishment, the list shall be subject to review after four
7 years and at any time thereafter. The list shall not be changed more often than once
8 every four years. However, nothing in this Paragraph shall prohibit the department
9 from supplementing the list with state-of-the-art, newly developed devices,
10 equipment, or medications that may be carried in lieu of other items on the list.
11 * * *
12 §1135.2. Qualifications to operate emergency medical response vehicles; vehicle
13 requirements; equipment; penalties
14 * * *
15 B. No person shall conduct, maintain, or operate an emergency medical
16 response vehicle as an emergency vehicle which:
17 (1)(a) Does not carry with it as part of its regular equipment the list of
18 equipment for emergency medical response vehicles as established by the Louisiana
19 Department of Health.
20 (b) This list shall be based upon the recommendations to the Louisiana
21 Department of Health from the Health Standards Subcommittee of the Louisiana
22 Ambulance Alliance.
23 (c) The Louisiana Department of Health shall distribute this list to every
24 ambulance service within thirty days of adoption, and thirty days after each
25 subsequent adoption as the list is updated. prescribed in rules and regulations
26 promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Health. This list shall be based upon
27 the recommendations of the American College of Surgeons as provided in R.S.
28 40:1135.1(A)(3). The list shall be consistent with the scope of practice for
29 emergency medical technicians established in R.S. 40:1133.14. After initial
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HB NO. 546
1 promulgation, such list shall be subject to review after four years and anytime
2 thereafter. The list shall not be changed more often than once every four years.
3 However, nothing shall preclude the Louisiana Department of Health from
4 supplementing the list with state of the art, newly developed devices, equipment, or
5 medications that may be carried in lieu of other items on the list of equipment.
6 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 546 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session LeBas
Abstract: Provides for the qualifications to operate emergency medical response vehicles
and ambulances.
Present law requires that the La. Dept. of Health (LDH) promulgate rules establishing a list
of required medical and safety equipment that shall be in all ambulances.
Proposed law changes present law by dispensing with the requirement to promulgate rules
to establish the list.
Proposed law adds that the list of equipment to be carried in all ambulances is based on
recommendations from the Health Standards Subcommittee of the La. Ambulance Alliance.
Proposed law provides for the definition of "ambulance".
Present law required a review of the list after four years. Prohibited changing the list more
than once every four years. Permitted supplementing the list with newly developed devices.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Proposed law provides that the LDH provide a list of required medical and safety equipment
that shall be in all emergency medical response vehicles.
Proposed law adds that the LDH shall distribute the list of required medical and safety
equipment to every ambulance service within thirty days of adoption, and within thirty days
after each subsequent adoption as the list is updated.
(Amends R.S. 1135.1(A)(3) and 1135.2(B)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Require that the list of equipment for emergency medical response vehicles be
based on recommendations from the Health Standards Subcommittee of the La.
Ambulance Alliance.
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HB NO. 546
2. Add that the La. Dept. of Health shall distribute the list of required medical and
safety equipment to every ambulance service within thirty days of adoption, and
within thirty days of every subsequent adoption.
3. Makes technical corrections.
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