Schwarzenegger Signs Bills To Increase State Oversight of EMTs
On Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) approved legislation aimed at increasing state oversight of emergency medical technicians, the Sacramento Bee reports.
AB 2917 by Assembly Member Alberto Torrico (D-Newark) will:
- Require EMTs to undergo criminal background checks;
- Require EMTs to be certified in the counties where they work; and
- Establish a statewide registry of EMTs.
EMT fees will be increased to cover the cost of building the registry.
In 2007, Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill because of amendments that would not have required some cases of misconduct to be disclosed (McIntosh, Sacramento Bee, 9/26).
Under SB 997 by Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles), firefighters will receive two seats on the California Emergency Medical Services Commission as part of an effort to ensure consistent oversight and enforcement of disciplinary procedures (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 9/25).
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