summary
Introduced
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
In Committee
02/26/2026
02/26/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Defines "digital license", "Just Culture Matrix", and "physical license". Provides that the Department of Public Health, by rule, shall publish a Just Culture Matrix, and it shall recommend that each EMS System include the Just Culture Matrix in its Program Plan for evaluating and responding to errors or failures to perform emergency and nonemergency medical services in accordance with the defined scope of practice of the EMS personnel. Provides that the Just Culture Matrix shall be a framework for fairly and consistently applying EMS System participation suspensions. Sets forth provisions concerning membership of the local System review board. Provides that the local System review board shall only have the authority to affirm, reduce, or rescind the EMS Medical Director's suspension order. Provides that the function of the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board is to review and affirm, reduce, or rescind disciplinary orders (instead of review and affirm, reverse, or modify). Makes conforming changes. Provides that the Department shall issue to EMS personnel a physical license, and all EMS personnel shall have access to a digital license. Requires a licensee to possess a copy of a physical license or a digital license.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act to introduce new definitions and clarify existing procedures. It defines "digital license" as a secure electronic record of a license accessible to EMS personnel, and "physical license" as the paper copy issued by the Department of Public Health. A "Just Culture Matrix" is introduced as a tool for evaluating EMS personnel performance and a framework for consistently applying suspensions for errors or failures in providing medical services. The bill also modifies the authority of local System review boards, limiting them to affirming, reducing, or rescinding an EMS Medical Director's suspension order, and clarifies that the State Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board will review and affirm, reduce, or rescind disciplinary orders, rather than affirm, reverse, or modify them. Furthermore, it mandates that the Department issue both physical and digital licenses to EMS personnel, and requires licensees to possess either a physical or digital copy of their license.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (on 02/26/2026)
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