South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 66

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 18, 2006

S. 66

Introduced by Senators Short, Ford, Lourie, Cleary, Malloy and Ryberg

S. Printed 5/18/06--H.

Read the first time March 30, 2006.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAL,

MILITARY, PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 66) to amend Sections 44-61-120, as amended, 44-61-130, as amended, and 44-61-330 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/SECTION    1.    Section 44-61-120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 271 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-61-120.    The department shall develop a comprehensive statewide emergency medical services plan to implement and ensure the delivery of adequate emergency medical services to every citizen. This plan must include guidelines for basic, intermediate, and paramedic emergency medical technicians for the administration of epinephrine to a person suffering or believed to be suffering from anaphylaxis."

SECTION    2.    Section 44-61-130 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 271 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-61-130.    A duly certified emergency medical technician may perform any function consistent with his certification, according to such rules guidelines and regulations as that the board may prescribe. Emergency medical technicians, trained to provide advanced life support and possessing current Department of Health and Environmental Control certification while on duty with a licensed service, are authorized to possess limited quantities of drugs, including controlled substances, as may be approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control for administration to patients during the regular course of duties of such emergency medical technicians, pursuant to the written or verbal order of a physician possessing a valid license to practice medicine within in this State provided such; however the physician is must be registered under the pursuant to state and federal laws pertaining to controlled substances."

SECTION    3.    Section 44-61-330 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-61-330.    (A) The EMSC Program shall must include, but is not limited to, the establishment of:

(1)    initial and continuing education programs for emergency medical services personnel that include training in the emergency care of infants and children;

(2)    guidelines for referring children to the appropriate emergency treatment facility;

(3)    pediatric equipment guidelines for pre-hospital care;

(4)    guidelines for basic, intermediate, and paramedic emergency medical technician certification for administering epinephrine to children suffering from a severe allergic reaction;

(5)    pediatric equipment guidelines for emergency departments;

(5)(6)    guidelines for pediatric trauma centers;

(6)(7)    an interhospital transfer system for critically ill or injured children;

(7)(8)    in conjunction with the South Carolina Data Oversight Council, the collection and analysis of statewide pediatric emergency and critical care medical services data from emergency and critical care medical services for the purpose of quality improvement by these facilities and services, subject to the confidentiality requirements of Section 44-61-350;

(8)(9)    injury prevention programs for parents;

(9)(10)    public education programs on accessing the emergency medical services system and what to do until the emergency medical services personnel arrive.

(B)    In gathering statewide pediatric emergency and critical care medical services data, the department shall rely upon, to the extent possible, data from existing sources; however, the department may contact families and physicians for the purpose of gathering additional data and providing information on available public and private resources. Information requested from a physician's office must be obtained pursuant to Chapter 115. Patient contact following data received from the State Budget and Control Board Office of Research and Statistics must be done conducted in accordance with regulations approved by the South Carolina Data Oversight Council and promulgated by the Office of Research and Statistics."

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

JOE E. BROWN for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) indicates that this bill would have no impact on the General Fund of the State or federal and/or other funds.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IMPACT:

Counties do not generally pay for the cost of training and education of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and the bill does not alter the core curriculum required for EMTs. Therefore, there should be no impact on local governments.

SPECIAL NOTES:

DHEC indicates that the financial impact of this bill will be upon students taking basic and intermediate courses due to increased course cost. A module of instruction would have to be developed and included in the current curriculum. It would take approximately 4 hours to teach this additional module, which would increase the student tuition cost by approximately $80 to $100.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTIONS 44-61-120, AS AMENDED, 44-61-130, AS AMENDED, AND 44-61-330 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ALL RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO INCLUDE GUIDELINES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF EPINEPHRINE IN A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN; TO AUTHORIZE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS TO POSSESS EPINEPHRINE; AND TO REQUIRE GUIDELINES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF EPINEPHRINE TO A CHILD SUFFERING FROM A SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 44-61-120 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 271 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-61-120.    The department shall develop a comprehensive statewide emergency medical services plan to implement and ensure the delivery of adequate emergency medical services to every citizen. This plan must include guidelines for the administration of epinephrine to a person suffering or believed to be suffering from anaphylaxis."

SECTION    2.    Section 44-61-130 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 271 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 44-61-130.    A duly certified emergency medical technician may perform any function consistent with his certification, according to such rules guidelines and regulations as that the board may prescribe. Emergency medical technicians, trained to provide advanced life support and possessing current Department of Health and Environmental Control certification, are authorized to possess limited quantities of drugs, including epinephrine and controlled substances, as may be approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control for administration to patients during the regular course of duties of such emergency medical technicians, pursuant to the written or verbal order of a physician possessing a valid license to practice medicine within in this State provided such; however the physician is must be registered under the pursuant to state and federal laws pertaining to controlled substances."

SECTION    3.    Section 44-61-330 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-61-330.    (A) The EMSC Program shall must include, but is not limited to, the establishment of:

(1)    initial and continuing education programs for emergency medical services personnel that include training in the emergency care of infants and children;

(2)    guidelines for referring children to the appropriate emergency treatment facility;

(3)    pediatric equipment guidelines for pre-hospital care;

(4)    guidelines for administering epinephrine to children suffering from a severe allergic reaction;

(5)    pediatric equipment guidelines for emergency departments;

(5)(6)    guidelines for pediatric trauma centers;

(6)(7)    an interhospital transfer system for critically ill or injured children;

(7)(8)    in conjunction with the South Carolina Data Oversight Council, the collection and analysis of statewide pediatric emergency and critical care medical services data from emergency and critical care medical services for the purpose of quality improvement by these facilities and services, subject to the confidentiality requirements of Section 44-61-350;

(8)(9)    injury prevention programs for parents;

(9)(10)    public education programs on accessing the emergency medical services system and what to do until the emergency medical services personnel arrive.

(B)    In gathering statewide pediatric emergency and critical care medical services data, the department shall rely upon, to the extent possible, data from existing sources; however, the department may contact families and physicians for the purpose of gathering additional data and providing information on available public and private resources. Information requested from a physician's office must be obtained pursuant to Chapter 115. Patient contact following data received from the State Budget and Control Board Office of Research and Statistics must be done conducted in accordance with regulations approved by the South Carolina Data Oversight Council and promulgated by the Office of Research and Statistics."

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:50 P.M.