HBA-JRA H.B. 2324 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2324 By: Jones, Charles Public Health 3/31/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Department of Health adopted rules, effective in February 1999, allowing for a fifth level of certification within the Emergency Medical Service (EMS). That fifth-level position is identified as "licensed paramedic." The rules require 60 college hours, including core courses approved by the Texas Higher Education Board, and approval of the paramedic's medical director. H.B. 2324 creates an alternative method for qualifying for licensure which allows for advancement within EMS without returning to school full-time. The alternative licensure requires a certain number of continuing medical education hours, approval of the paramedic's medical director, and four years of experience as a certified emergency medical technician-paramedic. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority previously delegated to the Texas Board of Health is modified in SECTION 3 (Section 773.050, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 773.049, Health and Safety Code, to make a change conforming to SECTION 3. SECTION 2. Amends Section 773.0495, Health and Safety Code, to provide that a licensed paramedic must complete a college course, rather than a curriculum that includes college-level course work, in accordance with rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health (board) or have four years of experience as a certified emergency medical technician-paramedic and have successfully completed the number of required continuing medical education hours prescribed by board rules. SECTION 3. Amends Section 773.050, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsections (a)-(c) and adding Subsection (f), as follows: (a) Makes conforming changes. (b) Requires the board, by rule, to establish minimum standards for emergency medical services personnel licensure and license revocation. Deletes references to certification and decertification. (c) Makes conforming changes. (f) Requires the board, in adopting rules for issuance of a license to an emergency medical technician-paramedic, to establish that, at a minimum, an applicant must complete at least four years of certification as an emergency medical technician-paramedic, complete the required continuing medical education hours required by board rule, and obtain a written recommendation from the medical director of the service provider with whom the applicant is affiliated. SECTION 4. Amends Section 773.054(a), Health and Safety Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 5. Amends Sections 773.055(a), (b), (d), (e), and (f), Health and Safety Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 6. Amends Section 773.059, Health and Safety Code, as follows: Sec. 773.059. New title: RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE. Deletes existing title, which read, "LATE RECERTIFICATION." Makes conforming changes. SECTION 7. Amends Section 773.061(a), Health and Safety Code, to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 8. Amends Section 773.064(a), Health and Safety Code, to provide that an offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree, rather than a Class A misdemeanor. This subsection relates to knowingly misrepresenting oneself as an emergency medical technician-paramedic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical technician, emergency care attendant, or licensed paramedic. SECTION 9. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. Requires the board to adopt rules under this Act not later than January 1, 2001. SECTION 10. Emergency clause.