Assigned to HEA                                                                                                               AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1147

 

AHCCCS; transplants

(NOW: qualified first responder instructor; definition)

 

Purpose

 

Expands the definition of “qualified first responder instructor” to include persons tested and certified by the National Safety Council or an equivalent organization.

 

Background

 

Pursuant to statute, a “first responder” is a person who is employed by an ambulance service and whose primary responsibility is the driving of an ambulance (A.R.S. §36-2201).  Prior to 2000, statute required first responders to comply with training and certification requirements adopted by the Director of the Department of Health Services (DHS).  However, DHS had not developed or adopted a training curriculum for first responders; nor had it adopted the national standard curriculum prescribed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

 

Statute also requires an ambulance service provider operating in an area with a population of less than 10,000 persons to have a certified emergency medical technician and a first responder staffing an ambulance while transporting a patient (A.R.S. §36-2202).  Due to the lack of training and certification regulations for first responders, there were no certified first responders in the state to meet this requirement.

 

Last year, the Legislature attempted to address the lack of certified first responders in the state by allowing DHS to recognize first responders who have completed a national curriculum and examination while under the supervision of a qualified first responder instructor who is tested and certified by the American Red Cross (Laws 2000, Chapter 327).  However, the American Red Cross is not the only organization that provides a training program that meets national standards; the National Safety Council also provides first responder training for instructors and students.  S.B. 1147 expands the definition of “qualified first responder instructor” to include other organizations that provide training for first responder instructors.

 

There are no costs relating to the provisions of this bill. 

 

Provisions

 

1.      Expands the definition of “qualified first responder instructor” to include persons tested and certified by the National Safety Council or an equivalent organization.

 

2.      Makes technical changes.

 

3.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendment Adopted by Committee

 

Adopted the strike-everything amendment.

 

Senate Action

 

HEALTH         2/20/01            DPA/SE           8-0

3rd Read           3/5/01                                      29-0-1

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 16, 2001