An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system, further providing for emergency medical responders, for emergency medical technicians, for emergency medical services vehicle operators and for advanced life support ambulances.

PRINTER'S NO. 61
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 73
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CAUSER, ARMANINI, BANTA, CUTLER, DELOZIER, HAMM,
JAMES, PICKETT, RAPP, SMITH, STENDER AND VITALI,
JANUARY 14, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 14, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system,
further providing for emergency medical responders, for
emergency medical technicians, for emergency medical services
vehicle operators and for advanced life support ambulances.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 8114(c), 8115(c)(2), 8122(a)(6) and (8)
and (b)(1)(iv), (3) and (4) and 8130(b) of Title 35 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 8114. Emergency medical responders.
* * *
(c) Triennial registration.--An EMR's certification is
deemed registered for three years after issuance. An EMR must
register the EMR certification at three-year intervals by
completing an application for triennial registration on a form
or through an electronic process, as prescribed by the
department. The following shall apply:
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(1) The department shall issue a triennial registration
of an EMR certification to an EMR who meets all of the
following:
(i) Has a current registration and applies for a new
registration no later than:
(A) 30 days before the current registration is
to expire; or
(B) a lesser time established by regulation of
the department.
(ii) Successfully:
(A) completes EMR triennial registration
practical skills and written knowledge examinations
approved by the department; or
(B) secures continuing education credits for EMR
triennial registration as required by the department
in continuing education programs approved by the
department.
(2) An EMR whose registration of an EMR certification
has [expired must qualify for a triennial registration of the
certification as prescribed by regulation of the department.]
been expired for six years or less may be recertified if the
following criteria are met:
(i) The EMR tests for competency or completes 16
hours of continuing education credits as determined by
the department.
(ii) The EMR obtains a valid certificate evidencing
successful completion of a CPR course acceptable to the
department.
(3) The department shall certify an EMR who meets the
criteria under paragraph (2).
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* * *
§ 8115. Emergency medical technicians.
* * *
(c) Triennial registration.--An EMT's certification is
deemed registered for three years after issuance. An EMT must
register the EMT certification at three-year intervals by
completing an application for triennial registration on a form
or through an electronic process, as prescribed by the
department. The following shall apply:
* * *
(2) An EMT whose registration of an EMT certification
has [expired must qualify for a triennial registration of the
certification as prescribed by regulation of the department.]
been expired for six years or less may be recertified if the
following criteria are met:
(i) The EMT tests for competency or completes 24
hours of continuing education credits as determined by
the department.
(ii) The EMT obtains a valid certificate evidencing
successful completion of a CPR course acceptable to the
department.
§ 8122. Emergency medical services vehicle operators.
(a) Certification.--An EMS vehicle operator certification
shall be permanent, subject to disciplinary action under this
section. The department shall certify as an EMS vehicle operator
a person who meets all of the following:
* * *
(6) Has successfully completed an emergency vehicle
operator's course of instruction in person and on site, or by
digital format, with a trainer approved by the department.
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* * *
(8) Has successfully completed an emergency vehicle
operator's course of instruction in person and on site, or by
digital format, with a trainer approved by the department
following a disqualification from certification under
paragraph (7), regardless of whether the person successfully
completed the course previously.
(b) Registration.--An EMS vehicle operator, other than an
EMS vehicle operator who operates a vehicle exclusively for a
QRS, shall register the EMS vehicle operator's certification. An
EMS vehicle operator who operates an EMS vehicle exclusively for
a QRS shall have no registration requirements. Except as
otherwise provided in this subsection, an EMS vehicle operator's
certification shall be deemed registered for three years after
issuance. An EMS vehicle operator may not operate a ground EMS
vehicle unless the certification is currently registered. The
following shall apply:
(1) The department shall issue a registration of an EMS
vehicle operator's certification to an EMS vehicle operator
who meets all of the following:
* * *
[(iv) Successfully completes continuing education
credits for EMS vehicle operators as required by the
department in continuing education programs approved by
the department.]
* * *
[(3) If an EMS provider's certification is subject to a
biennial registration cycle, the continuing education
requirements for the registration of the EMS vehicle
operator's certification following the initial registration
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of the certification shall be prorated based upon the month
in which the EMS provider became certified, with any
fractional requirement rounded down.
(4) An EMS vehicle operator whose registration of an EMS
vehicle operator's certification has expired shall qualify
for a biennial registration of the certification as
prescribed by regulation of the department.]
* * *
§ 8130. Advanced life support ambulances.
* * *
(b) Staffing requirements.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
minimum staffing requirements for an ALS ambulance when
responding to a call to provide EMS for a patient requiring
EMS above the skill level of an advanced EMT is one EMS
provider at or above the EMT level[,] and one EMS provider
above the advanced EMT level. [and one EMS vehicle operator.
Only the two EMS providers need to respond if one of them is
also the EMS vehicle operator.] When present, an EMS provider
qualified to provide the type and level of EMS required by
the patient must attend to the patient at the scene and
during transportation. If a member of the ambulance crew
arrives at the scene before another crew member, that person
shall begin providing EMS to the patient at that person's
skill level.
(2) Minimum staffing requirements for an ALS ambulance
is the same as for a BLS ambulance when the ALS ambulance
responds to a call to provide EMS for a patient requiring EMS
at or below the skill level of an advanced EMT.
(3) When necessary and due to limited availability of
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EMS resources, such as staffing during a 911 emergency call,
the ALS staffing requirement under this subsection may be one
EMS provider at or above the advanced EMT level and one EMS
vehicle operator. The department shall provide guidance for
the provision of patient care under this paragraph.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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