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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1521 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1604
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to emergency medical services oversight.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 4
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1521 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1604
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1604) of Patrick M. O'Connor for
legislation relative to emergency medical services oversight. Public Health.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to emergency medical services oversight.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of section 3 of chapter 111C, as appearing
2in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “years”, in line 32,
3the following words:- , provided that, such plan shall include guidelines for clear and streamlined
4communication between the regional councils and the department.
5 SECTION 2. Paragraph (6) of subsection (c) of said section 4 of said chapter 111C, as so
6appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “input from”, in line 50, the following
7words:- , and communication to, .
8 SECTION 3. Said section 4 of said chapter 111C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
9inserting after subsection (c) the following section:-
10 (d) Each regional EMS council shall prepare and annually file with the department and
11the board, on or before May 30, a regional EMS services and support plan outlining the regional
12EMS council’s planned efforts to meet and advance the regional EMS council’s roles and 2 of 4
13responsibilities, as outlined in section 4(c) of this chapter. Each regional EMS plan shall be
14consistent with the state EMS plan, although it may reflect regional differences. Each regional
15EMS system plan shall also include, without limitation, a trauma plan consisting of, at a
16minimum, trauma point of entry guidelines and scene triage criteria.
17 Upon submission, the department may amend each regional EMS council contract,
18subject to appropriation and to the guidelines provided by section 5 of this chapter, to reflect and
19respond to the submitted regional EMS plans.
20 SECTION 4. Subsection (d) of section 5 of said chapter 111C, as so appearing, is hereby
21amended by inserting after the word “regions”, in line 18, the following words:- , as well as the
22regional council’s annual submitted regional EMS plan.
23 SECTION 5. Said chapter 111C is hereby amended by striking out section 14, as so
24appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
25 The department shall establish and implement procedures for the making, transmission
26and investigation of complaints concerning any person certified, licensed, designated or
27otherwise approved by the department under this chapter. The department shall prepare, and
28make available on the office of emergency services website, a description of such procedures,
29including any forms or other materials required to make such a complaint. The department shall,
30as the public interest may require, investigate every complaint received, except to the extent that
31the act or practice complained of does not constitute a violation of this chapter or any regulation,
32guideline or order under this chapter. The department shall refer complaints to other agencies
33and organizations, as appropriate. Upon investigation the department shall notify the 3 of 4
34complainant, if known, of its action in the matter. If it finds that an investigation is not required,
35it shall notify the complainant, if known, of its finding and with its reason.
36 SECTION 6. Section 3 of said chapter 111C, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
37inserting after subsection (c) the following section:-
38 (d) The department, in consultation with the regional councils, shall study and make
39recommendations for potential permanent funding sources and mechanisms to support the office
40of emergency medical services, the regional councils, and central medical emergency direction
41centers. The department shall issue a report, with findings and recommendations, to the clerks of
42the house of representatives and senate, as well as the house and senate committees on ways and
43means, by December 1, 2025.
44 SECTION 7. Chapter 111C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
45section 25 the following section:-
46 Section 26. (a) There shall be an emergency medical services peer licensure advisory
47committee, which shall consist of the commissioner or a designee, the director of the office of
48emergency medical services or a designee, and 6 members appointed by the commissioner, or
49their designees, as follows: 1 each from the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, the
50Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association, the Professional Fire Chiefs Association
51of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Ambulance Association, the Massachusetts Association of
52Hospital-Based Paramedic Services, and the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics.
53 (b) The advisory committee shall meet, at a minimum, twice annually to advise the
54department on the complaint resolution process and disciplinary actions relative to persons
55certified, licensed, designated or otherwise approved by the department under chapter 111C. 4 of 4
56Each appointed member of this advisory council shall serve a term of 3 years, or until a
57successor is appointed and qualified. No appointed member shall serve more than 3 terms.
58Appointees shall serve without compensation.