SB0761 EngrossedLRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
5Act is amended by changing Sections 3.20, 3.65, and 3.85 and by
6adding Section 3.22 as follows:
 
7    (210 ILCS 50/3.20)
8    Sec. 3.20. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems.
9    (a) "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System" means an
10organization of hospitals, vehicle service providers and
11personnel approved by the Department in a specific geographic
12area, which coordinates and provides pre-hospital and
13inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical
14transports at a BLS, ILS and/or ALS level pursuant to a System
15program plan submitted to and approved by the Department, and
16pursuant to the EMS Region Plan adopted for the EMS Region in
17which the System is located.
18    (b) One hospital in each System program plan must be
19designated as the Resource Hospital. All other hospitals which
20are located within the geographic boundaries of a System and
21which have standby, basic or comprehensive level emergency
22departments must function in that EMS System as either an
23Associate Hospital or Participating Hospital and follow all

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 2 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1System policies specified in the System Program Plan,
2including but not limited to the replacement of drugs and
3equipment used by providers who have delivered patients to
4their emergency departments. All hospitals and vehicle service
5providers participating in an EMS System must specify their
6level of participation in the System Program Plan.
7    (c) The Department shall have the authority and
8responsibility to:
9        (1) Approve BLS, ILS and ALS level EMS Systems which
10    meet minimum standards and criteria established in rules
11    adopted by the Department pursuant to this Act, including
12    the submission of a Program Plan for Department approval.
13    Beginning September 1, 1997, the Department shall approve
14    the development of a new EMS System only when a local or
15    regional need for establishing such System has been
16    verified by the Department. This shall not be construed as
17    a needs assessment for health planning or other purposes
18    outside of this Act. Following Department approval, EMS
19    Systems must be fully operational within one year from the
20    date of approval.
21        (2) Monitor EMS Systems, based on minimum standards
22    for continuing operation as prescribed in rules adopted by
23    the Department pursuant to this Act, which shall include
24    requirements for submitting Program Plan amendments to the
25    Department for approval.
26        (3) Renew EMS System approvals every 4 years, after an

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 3 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    inspection, based on compliance with the standards for
2    continuing operation prescribed in rules adopted by the
3    Department pursuant to this Act.
4        (4) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew approval of
5    any EMS System, after providing an opportunity for a
6    hearing, when findings show that it does not meet the
7    minimum standards for continuing operation as prescribed
8    by the Department, or is found to be in violation of its
9    previously approved Program Plan.
10        (5) Require each EMS System to adopt written protocols
11    for the bypassing of or diversion to any hospital, trauma
12    center or regional trauma center, which provide that a
13    person shall not be transported to a facility other than
14    the nearest hospital, regional trauma center or trauma
15    center unless the medical benefits to the patient
16    reasonably expected from the provision of appropriate
17    medical treatment at a more distant facility outweigh the
18    increased risks to the patient from transport to the more
19    distant facility, or the transport is in accordance with
20    the System's protocols for patient choice or refusal.
21        (6) Require that the EMS Medical Director of an ILS or
22    ALS level EMS System be a physician licensed to practice
23    medicine in all of its branches in Illinois, and certified
24    by the American Board of Emergency Medicine or the
25    American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine, and that
26    the EMS Medical Director of a BLS level EMS System be a

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 4 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its
2    branches in Illinois, with regular and frequent
3    involvement in pre-hospital emergency medical services. In
4    addition, all EMS Medical Directors shall:
5            (A) Have experience on an EMS vehicle at the
6        highest level available within the System, or make
7        provision to gain such experience within 12 months
8        prior to the date responsibility for the System is
9        assumed or within 90 days after assuming the position;
10            (B) Be thoroughly knowledgeable of all skills
11        included in the scope of practices of all levels of EMS
12        personnel within the System;
13            (C) Have or make provision to gain experience
14        instructing students at a level similar to that of the
15        levels of EMS personnel within the System; and
16            (D) For ILS and ALS EMS Medical Directors,
17        successfully complete a Department-approved EMS
18        Medical Director's Course.
19        (7) Prescribe statewide EMS data elements to be
20    collected and documented by providers in all EMS Systems
21    for all emergency and non-emergency medical services, with
22    a one-year phase-in for commencing collection of such data
23    elements.
24        (8) Define, through rules adopted pursuant to this
25    Act, the terms "Resource Hospital", "Associate Hospital",
26    "Participating Hospital", "Basic Emergency Department",

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 5 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    "Standby Emergency Department", "Comprehensive Emergency
2    Department", "EMS Medical Director", "EMS Administrative
3    Director", and "EMS System Coordinator".
4            (A) (Blank).
5            (B) (Blank).
6        (9) Investigate the circumstances that caused a
7    hospital in an EMS system to go on bypass status to
8    determine whether that hospital's decision to go on bypass
9    status was reasonable. The Department may impose
10    sanctions, as set forth in Section 3.140 of the Act, upon a
11    Department determination that the hospital unreasonably
12    went on bypass status in violation of the Act.
13        (10) Evaluate the capacity and performance of any
14    freestanding emergency center established under Section
15    32.5 of this Act in meeting emergency medical service
16    needs of the public, including compliance with applicable
17    emergency medical standards and assurance of the
18    availability of and immediate access to the highest
19    quality of medical care possible.
20        (11) Permit limited EMS System participation by
21    facilities operated by the United States Department of
22    Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. Subject
23    to patient preference, Illinois EMS providers may
24    transport patients to Veterans Health Administration
25    facilities that voluntarily participate in an EMS System.
26    Any Veterans Health Administration facility seeking

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 6 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    limited participation in an EMS System shall agree to
2    comply with all Department administrative rules
3    implementing this Section. The Department may promulgate
4    rules, including, but not limited to, the types of
5    Veterans Health Administration facilities that may
6    participate in an EMS System and the limitations of
7    participation.
8        (12) Ensure that EMS systems are transporting pregnant
9    women to the appropriate facilities based on the
10    classification of the levels of maternal care described
11    under subsection (a) of Section 2310-223 of the Department
12    of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil
13    Administrative Code of Illinois.
14        (13) Provide administrative support to the EMT
15    Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task Force.
16(Source: P.A. 101-447, eff. 8-23-19.)
 
17    (210 ILCS 50/3.22 new)
18    Sec. 3.22. EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task
19Force.
20    (a) The EMT Training, Recruitment, and Retention Task
21Force is created to address the following:
22        (1) the impact that the EMT and Paramedic shortage is
23    having on this State's EMS System and health care system;
24        (2) barriers to the training, recruitment, and
25    retention of Emergency Medical Technicians throughout this

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 7 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    State;
2        (3) steps that the State of Illinois can take,
3    including coordination and identification of State and
4    federal funding sources, to assist Illinois high schools,
5    community colleges, and ground ambulance providers to
6    train, recruit, and retain emergency medical technicians;
7        (4) how emergency medical responder and emergency
8    medical technician licensure and testing and certification
9    requirements affect the recruitment and retention of
10    emergency medical technicians, including, without
11    limitation, how the implementation of the National
12    Registry of Emergency Medical Technician training criteria
13    have impacted the certification and licensure of new EMRs,
14    EMTs, and Paramedics;
15        (5) how apprenticeship programs, local, regional, and
16    statewide, can be utilized to recruit and retain EMRs,
17    EMTs, and Paramedics;
18        (6) how ground ambulance reimbursement affects the
19    recruitment and retention of EMTs and Paramedics; and
20        (7) all other areas that the Task Force deems
21    necessary to examine to assist in the recruitment and
22    retention of EMTs and Paramedics.
23    (b) The Task Force shall be comprised of the following
24members:
25        (1) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
26    appointed by the Senate President, who shall serve as

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 8 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    co-chair;
2        (2) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
3    appointed by the Speaker of the House;
4        (3) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
5    appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;
6        (4) one member of the Illinois General Assembly,
7    appointed by the House Minority Leader, who shall serve as
8    co-chair;
9        (5) 9 members representing private ground ambulance
10    providers throughout this State representing for-profit
11    and non-profit rural and ground ambulance providers,
12    appointed by the Governor;
13        (6) 3 members representing hospitals, appointed by the
14    Speaker of the House, with one member representing safety
15    net hospitals and one member representing rural hospitals;
16        (7) 3 members representing a statewide association of
17    nursing homes, appointed by the President of the Senate;
18        (8) one member representing the State Board of
19    Education, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House;
20    and
21        (9) one member representing the Illinois Community
22    College Systems, appointed by the Minority Leader of the
23    Senate.
24    (c) Members of the Task Force shall serve without
25compensation.
26    (d) The Task Force shall convene at the call of the

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 9 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1co-chairs and shall hold at least 6 meetings.
2    (e) The Task Force shall submit its final report to the
3General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 1,
42024, and upon the submission of its final report, the Task
5Force shall be dissolved.
 
6    (210 ILCS 50/3.65)
7    Sec. 3.65. EMS Lead Instructor.
8    (a) "EMS Lead Instructor" means a person who has
9successfully completed a course of education as approved by
10the Department or has obtained sufficient experience as
11determined by the EMS Medical Director, and who is currently
12approved by the Department to coordinate or teach education,
13training and continuing education courses, in accordance with
14standards prescribed by this Act and rules adopted by the
15Department pursuant to this Act.
16    (b) The Department shall have the authority and
17responsibility to:
18        (1) Prescribe education requirements for EMS Lead
19    Instructor candidates through rules adopted pursuant to
20    this Act.
21        (2) Prescribe testing requirements for EMS Lead
22    Instructor candidates through rules adopted pursuant to
23    this Act.
24        (3) Charge each candidate for EMS Lead Instructor a
25    fee to be submitted with an application for an

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 10 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    examination, an application for licensure, and an
2    application for relicensure.
3        (4) Approve individuals as EMS Lead Instructors who
4    have met the Department's education and testing
5    requirements.
6        (5) Require that all education, training and
7    continuing education courses for EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT,
8    Paramedic, PHRN, PHPA, PHAPRN, ECRN, EMR, and Emergency
9    Medical Dispatcher be coordinated by at least one approved
10    EMS Lead Instructor. A program which includes education,
11    training or continuing education for more than one type of
12    personnel may use one EMS Lead Instructor to coordinate
13    the program, and a single EMS Lead Instructor may
14    simultaneously coordinate more than one program or course.
15        (6) Provide standards and procedures for awarding EMS
16    Lead Instructor approval to persons previously approved by
17    the Department to coordinate such courses, based on
18    qualifications prescribed by the Department through rules
19    adopted pursuant to this Act.
20        (7) Suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the
21    approval of an EMS Lead Instructor, after an opportunity
22    for a hearing, when findings show one or more of the
23    following:
24            (A) The EMS Lead Instructor has failed to conduct
25        a course in accordance with the curriculum prescribed
26        by this Act and rules adopted by the Department

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 11 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1        pursuant to this Act; or
2            (B) The EMS Lead Instructor has failed to comply
3        with protocols prescribed by the Department through
4        rules adopted pursuant to this Act.
5(Source: P.A. 100-1082, eff. 8-24-19.)
 
6    (210 ILCS 50/3.85)
7    Sec. 3.85. Vehicle Service Providers.
8    (a) "Vehicle Service Provider" means an entity licensed by
9the Department to provide emergency or non-emergency medical
10services in compliance with this Act, the rules promulgated by
11the Department pursuant to this Act, and an operational plan
12approved by its EMS System(s), utilizing at least ambulances
13or specialized emergency medical service vehicles (SEMSV).
14        (1) "Ambulance" means any publicly or privately owned
15    on-road vehicle that is specifically designed, constructed
16    or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for,
17    and is maintained or operated for the emergency
18    transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded
19    or otherwise incapacitated or helpless, or the
20    non-emergency medical transportation of persons who
21    require the presence of medical personnel to monitor the
22    individual's condition or medical apparatus being used on
23    such individuals.
24        (2) "Specialized Emergency Medical Services Vehicle"
25    or "SEMSV" means a vehicle or conveyance, other than those

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 12 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    owned or operated by the federal government, that is
2    primarily intended for use in transporting the sick or
3    injured by means of air, water, or ground transportation,
4    that is not an ambulance as defined in this Act. The term
5    includes watercraft, aircraft and special purpose ground
6    transport vehicles or conveyances not intended for use on
7    public roads.
8        (3) An ambulance or SEMSV may also be designated as a
9    Limited Operation Vehicle or Special-Use Vehicle:
10            (A) "Limited Operation Vehicle" means a vehicle
11        which is licensed by the Department to provide basic,
12        intermediate or advanced life support emergency or
13        non-emergency medical services that are exclusively
14        limited to specific events or locales.
15            (B) "Special-Use Vehicle" means any publicly or
16        privately owned vehicle that is specifically designed,
17        constructed or modified and equipped, and is intended
18        to be used for, and is maintained or operated solely
19        for the emergency or non-emergency transportation of a
20        specific medical class or category of persons who are
21        sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or
22        helpless (e.g. high-risk obstetrical patients,
23        neonatal patients).
24            (C) "Reserve Ambulance" means a vehicle that meets
25        all criteria set forth in this Section and all
26        Department rules, except for the required inventory of

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 13 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1        medical supplies and durable medical equipment, which
2        may be rapidly transferred from a fully functional
3        ambulance to a reserve ambulance without the use of
4        tools or special mechanical expertise.
5    (b) The Department shall have the authority and
6responsibility to:
7        (1) Require all Vehicle Service Providers, both
8    publicly and privately owned, to function within an EMS
9    System.
10        (2) Require a Vehicle Service Provider utilizing
11    ambulances to have a primary affiliation with an EMS
12    System within the EMS Region in which its Primary Service
13    Area is located, which is the geographic areas in which
14    the provider renders the majority of its emergency
15    responses. This requirement shall not apply to Vehicle
16    Service Providers which exclusively utilize Limited
17    Operation Vehicles.
18        (3) Establish licensing standards and requirements for
19    Vehicle Service Providers, through rules adopted pursuant
20    to this Act, including but not limited to:
21            (A) Vehicle design, specification, operation and
22        maintenance standards, including standards for the use
23        of reserve ambulances;
24            (B) Equipment requirements;
25            (C) Staffing requirements; and
26            (D) License renewal at intervals determined by the

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 14 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1        Department, which shall be not less than every 4
2        years.
3        The Department's standards and requirements with
4    respect to vehicle staffing for private, nonpublic local
5    government employers must allow for alternative staffing
6    models that include an EMR who drives an ambulance with a
7    licensed EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, or PHRN, as
8    appropriate, in the patient compartment providing care to
9    the patient pursuant to the approval of the EMS System
10    Program Plan developed and approved by the EMS Medical
11    Director for an EMS System. The Department shall monitor
12    the implementation and performance of alternative staffing
13    models and may issue a notice of termination of an
14    alternative staffing model only upon evidence that an EMS
15    System Program Plan is not being adhered to. Adoption of
16    an alternative staffing model shall not result in a
17    Vehicle Service Provider being prohibited or limited in
18    the utilization of its staff or equipment from providing
19    any of the services authorized by this Act or as otherwise
20    outlined in the approved EMS System Program Plan,
21    including, without limitation, the deployment of resources
22    to provide out-of-state disaster response.
23        An EMS System Program Plan for a Basic Life Support,
24    advanced life support, and critical care transport
25    services transport utilizing an EMR and an EMT, Paramedic,
26    or appropriate critical care transport staff shall include

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 15 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    the following:
2            (A) Alternative staffing models for a Basic Life
3        Support transport utilizing an EMR and an EMT shall
4        only be utilized for interfacility Basic Life Support
5        transports specified by the EMS System Program Plan as
6        determined by the EMS System Medical Director and
7        medical appointments, excluding any transport to or
8        from a dialysis center.
9            (B) Protocols that shall include dispatch
10        procedures to properly screen and assess patients for
11        EMR-staffed transports and EMT-staffed Basic Life
12        Support transport.
13            (C) A requirement that a provider shall implement
14        a quality assurance plan with mechanisms outlined to
15        audit dispatch screening and the outcome of transports
16        performed.
17            (D) The EMT, Paramedic, and critical care
18        transport staff shall have the minimum at least one
19        year of experience in performance of pre-hospital,
20        inter-hospital emergency care and other health care
21        experience as a clinician, as determined by the EMS
22        Medical Director in accordance with the EMS System
23        Program Plan.
24            (E) The licensed EMR must complete a defensive
25        driving course prior to participation in the
26        Department's alternative staffing model.

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 16 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1            (F) The length of the EMS System Program Plan for a
2        Basic Life Support transport utilizing an EMR and an
3        EMT shall be for one year, and must be renewed annually
4        if proof of the criteria being met is submitted,
5        validated, and approved by the EMS Medical Director
6        for the EMS System and the Department.
7        The Department must allow for an alternative rural
8    staffing model for those vehicle service providers that
9    serve a rural or semi-rural population of 10,000 or fewer
10    inhabitants and exclusively uses volunteers, paid-on-call,
11    or a combination thereof.
12        (4) License all Vehicle Service Providers that have
13    met the Department's requirements for licensure, unless
14    such Provider is owned or licensed by the federal
15    government. All Provider licenses issued by the Department
16    shall specify the level and type of each vehicle covered
17    by the license (BLS, ILS, ALS, ambulance, SEMSV, limited
18    operation vehicle, special use vehicle, ambulance assist
19    vehicle, reserve ambulance) and shall allow for ambulances
20    to be immediately upgraded to a higher level of service
21    when the Vehicle Service Provider sends an ambulance
22    assist vehicle with appropriate equipment and licensed
23    staff to intercept with the licensed ambulance in the
24    field.
25        (5) Annually inspect all licensed vehicles operated by
26    Vehicle Service Providers.

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 17 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1        (6) Suspend, revoke, refuse to issue or refuse to
2    renew the license of any Vehicle Service Provider, or that
3    portion of a license pertaining to a specific vehicle
4    operated by the Provider, after an opportunity for a
5    hearing, when findings show that the Provider or one or
6    more of its vehicles has failed to comply with the
7    standards and requirements of this Act or rules adopted by
8    the Department pursuant to this Act.
9        (7) Issue an Emergency Suspension Order for any
10    Provider or vehicle licensed under this Act, when the
11    Director or his designee has determined that an immediate
12    and serious danger to the public health, safety and
13    welfare exists. Suspension or revocation proceedings which
14    offer an opportunity for hearing shall be promptly
15    initiated after the Emergency Suspension Order has been
16    issued.
17        (8) Exempt any licensed vehicle from subsequent
18    vehicle design standards or specifications required by the
19    Department, as long as said vehicle is continuously in
20    compliance with the vehicle design standards and
21    specifications originally applicable to that vehicle, or
22    until said vehicle's title of ownership is transferred.
23        (9) Exempt any vehicle (except an SEMSV) which was
24    being used as an ambulance on or before December 15, 1980,
25    from vehicle design standards and specifications required
26    by the Department, until said vehicle's title of ownership

 

 

SB0761 Engrossed- 18 -LRB103 03215 CPF 48221 b

1    is transferred. Such vehicles shall not be exempt from all
2    other licensing standards and requirements prescribed by
3    the Department.
4        (10) Prohibit any Vehicle Service Provider from
5    advertising, identifying its vehicles, or disseminating
6    information in a false or misleading manner concerning the
7    Provider's type and level of vehicles, location, primary
8    service area, response times, level of personnel,
9    licensure status or System participation.
10        (10.5) Prohibit any Vehicle Service Provider, whether
11    municipal, private, or hospital-owned, from advertising
12    itself as a critical care transport provider unless it
13    participates in a Department-approved EMS System critical
14    care transport plan.
15        (11) Charge each Vehicle Service Provider a fee per
16    transport vehicle, due annually at time of inspection. The
17    fee per transport vehicle shall be set by administrative
18    rule by the Department and shall not exceed 100 vehicles
19    per provider.
20(Source: P.A. 102-623, eff. 8-27-21.)