s_hhs_2016a_2016-04-21t13:33:53z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/21/2016

02:47 PM -- HB 16-1034



Senator Garcia, bill sponsor, presented the bill. Under current law, first responders are overseen by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The reengrossed bill renames "first responders" as "emergency medical responders" and requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to begin a voluntary registration program on July 1, 2017. The CDPHE will create and administer the registration program, including promulgating rules for training programs and continued competency requirements, and will be responsible for investigating complaints and taking disciplinary action if necessary. This registration program replaces the DPS certification program. The bill adds the registration program to the programs that can be funded from the Emergency Medical Services Account in the Highway Users Tax Fund.



Emergency medical responders must be registered in order to provide care unless acting as a good samaritan. To be registered as an emergency medical responder, at a minimum, a person must be certified through a nationally recognized emergency responder certification organization, and submit to a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The bill provides for the provisional registration of applicants whose fingerprint-based criminal history record check has not been completed. The CDPHE will develop additional registration requirements and may set fees as part of its rulemaking process.



02:49 PM -- Paul Cooke, DPS, testified in support of the bill.



02:52 PM -- Michelle Reese, CDPHE, spoke in support of the bill.



02:55 PM -- Rich Martin, State Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council and Colorado State Fire Chiefs, spoke in support of the bill.



02:57 PM



Senator Garcia made closing comments.