Nor-Cal EMS

What’s on fire this time?

Assembly Bill-2917 Passed in 2008, authored by Assembly Member Alberto Torrico, 20th District, Fremont area. Passed in 2008, authored by Assembly Member Alberto Torrico, 20th District, Fremont area. Access to full AB-2917 bill available on Nor-Cal website. Access to full AB-2917 bill available on Nor-Cal website.AB-2917 Implementation by July 1, 2010 for all EMTs. Implementation by July 1, 2010 for all EMTs.

Assembly Bill-2917 EMSA will institute a statewide EMT certification centralized registry. EMSA will institute a statewide EMT certification centralized registry. All EMTs will be required to complete a background check both DOJ & FBI. All EMTs will be required to complete a background check both DOJ & FBI. Subsequent Arrest notification service through DOJ. Subsequent Arrest notification service through DOJ. Guidelines for disciplinary orders and conditions of probation. Guidelines for disciplinary orders and conditions of probation.

Why? In recent years a series of articles and investigations by the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles times have highlighted inconsistent and disconcerting EMT disciplinary enforcement. In recent years a series of articles and investigations by the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles times have highlighted inconsistent and disconcerting EMT disciplinary enforcement. The result has been EMT with various and significant criminal backgrounds acquiring and/or maintaining licenses. The result has been EMT with various and significant criminal backgrounds acquiring and/or maintaining licenses. Criminal infractions have included child sexual abuse, domestic violence, patient neglect, and narcotic convictions. Criminal infractions have included child sexual abuse, domestic violence, patient neglect, and narcotic convictions.

Why? Statewide, there are 61 EMT certifying authorities: Statewide, there are 61 EMT certifying authorities: – 31 LEMSA and 30 public safety agencies. Only 17 of the 31 LEMSAs require DOJ background checks. Only 17 of the 31 LEMSAs require DOJ background checks. Data about the public safety agency checks has not been collected. Data about the public safety agency checks has not been collected. According to DOJ rules, the certifying agencies that require criminal background checks cannot share the criminal history information with each other when an EMT applies to work in another jurisdiction. According to DOJ rules, the certifying agencies that require criminal background checks cannot share the criminal history information with each other when an EMT applies to work in another jurisdiction.

Why? California is the only state that does not certify EMT at the state level. California is the only state that does not certify EMT at the state level. In addition, EMT are the only allied health professionals in California who are not state-licensed and the state lacks a statewide registry on EMT licensure. In addition, EMT are the only allied health professionals in California who are not state-licensed and the state lacks a statewide registry on EMT licensure.

What? Requires the California Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA) to establish and maintain a centralized registry for monitoring EMT certification and adopt related regulations.

What? Requires EMSA to adopt regulations that standardize criminal background check processes and rely on California Department of Justice (DOJ) data and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data. Requires EMSA to adopt regulations that standardize criminal background check processes and rely on California Department of Justice (DOJ) data and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data. Requires LEMSA to verify resulting background checks. Requires LEMSA to verify resulting background checks. Requires a DOJ-Subsequent Arrest Notification Service. Requires a DOJ-Subsequent Arrest Notification Service.

What? Requires EMSA to adopt regulations pertaining to: a) Disciplinary processes including suspensions and probation. a) Disciplinary processes including suspensions and probation. b) Issuance of certification and recertification. b) Issuance of certification and recertification.

What? Authorizes LEMSA to investigate disciplinary issues and establishes related processes. Authorizes LEMSA to investigate disciplinary issues and establishes related processes. Significantly expands the reasons an EMT may have a certification or license denied, suspended, or revoked. Significantly expands the reasons an EMT may have a certification or license denied, suspended, or revoked.

Definitions “Criminal Offender Record Information” or “CORI” Records and data compiled by criminal justice agencies for purposes of identifying criminal offenders and of maintaining as to each such offender a summary of arrests, pretrial proceedings, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation, and release.

Definitions “Subsequent Arrest Notification Report” Reports issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the LEMSA to receive state summary criminal history information to assist in fulfilling employment, licensing, or certification duties, upon the arrest of any person whose fingerprints are maintained on file at the DOJ as the result of an application for licensing, employment, or certification, or approval. Subsequent arrest notification shall consist only of any offense an individual is arrested for after the individual’s original fingerprint date.

Definitions Actions considered evidence of a “threat to public health and safety” Fraud to procure a license; gross negligence; repeated negligent acts; incompetence; fraud, dishonest, corrupt act for qualification of license; conviction of any crime related to qualifications, functions, duties; violate/conspire to violate any provision of bill; violate any Federal/State statute or regulation on drugs; addiction or excess use of alcohol or drugs outside the supervision of medical control; irrational behavior/impaired ability to function; unprofessional conduct (patient abuse, patient confidentiality, sexually related offense)

Data Public Access to Central Registry Data The following EMT certification information will be available to the public: (a) First name (a) First name (b) Last name (b) Last name (c) Middle name, if available (c) Middle name, if available (d) EMT certifying entity (d) EMT certifying entity (e) Registry number (e) Registry number

Data (f) Current certification status (f) Current certification status (1) Active (1) Active (2) Expired (2) Expired (3) Denied (3) Denied (4) Revoked (4) Revoked (5) Suspension (5) Suspension (A) Suspension effective date (B) Suspension expiration date (6) Placed on probation (6) Placed on probation (A) Probation effective date (B) Probation expiration date (B) Probation expiration date (7) LEMSA that took certification action (7) LEMSA that took certification action

How? “Grandfathered” requirement of the bill: The individual must have received a DOJ criminal background check. The individual must have received a DOJ criminal background check. The criminal background check must include subsequent arrest notification. The criminal background check must include subsequent arrest notification. The employer must certify to EMSA that the individual had a criminal background check which includes a subsequent arrest notification and that the individual has not committed any sexually related offenses under PC #290; not convicted of murder, attempted murder; or murder for hire; not convicted of 2 or more felonies; is not on parole or probation for any felony. The employer must certify to EMSA that the individual had a criminal background check which includes a subsequent arrest notification and that the individual has not committed any sexually related offenses under PC #290; not convicted of murder, attempted murder; or murder for hire; not convicted of 2 or more felonies; is not on parole or probation for any felony.

How? Initial Certification  Apply Online at : Apply Onlinewww.NorCalEMS.org Apply Onlinewww.NorCalEMS.org  Register (one time) and sign in.  Follow online directions to complete application.  Print three copies of Nor-Cal Live Scan Service form. Follow form directions and locations for a live scan provider. Nor-Cal Live Scan Service form locationsNor-Cal Live Scan Service form locations  A laptop is available in the office of Nor-Cal for your convenience to apply online.

How? Recertification  Apply On-Line at : Apply On-Linewww.NorCalEMS.org Apply On-Linewww.NorCalEMS.org  Register (one time) and sign in.  Follow online directions to complete application.  If not grandfathered in, print three copies of Nor-Cal Live Scan Service form. Follow form directions and locations for a live scan provider. Nor-Cal Live Scan Service formlocations Nor-Cal Live Scan Service formlocations  A laptop is available in the office of Nor-Cal for your convenience to apply online. apply onlineapply online

How? Live Scan form available on-line and pick up at Nor-Cal. Live Scan form available on-line and pick up at Nor-Cal. Live Scan formon-line Live Scan formon-line Live Scan sheet pre-filled out. Form directions and a website for Live Scan locations and mapping provided. Live Scan sheet pre-filled out. Form directions and a website for Live Scan locations and mapping provided. locations EMSA will notify Nor-Cal of eligible EMTs. Nor-Cal will issue a temporary certification card and EMSA will issue a “hard card”. EMSA will notify Nor-Cal of eligible EMTs. Nor-Cal will issue a temporary certification card and EMSA will issue a “hard card”.

Cost EMSA feesEMSA fees Certification: $75.00 ($22 central registry, $38 DOJ-CORI function, $15 for Admin. Law Judge.) Certification: $75.00 ($22 central registry, $38 DOJ-CORI function, $15 for Admin. Law Judge.) Recertification: $37.00 (No DOJ fee.) Recertification: $37.00 (No DOJ fee.) Live Scan feesLive Scan fees Range from $ $43.00 Range from $ $43.00 Nor-Cal feesNor-Cal fees Certification: $45.00 Certification: $45.00 Recertification: $28.00 Recertification: $28.00

Assistance EMSA EMSA DOJ DOJ Nor-Cal EMS Nor-Cal EMS

Contact Bill Masten Nor-Cal EMS Inc. 43 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA