2009 Texas Code
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 9. SAFETY
CHAPTER 774. LOCAL PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES  

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

TITLE 9. SAFETY

SUBTITLE B. EMERGENCIES

CHAPTER 774. LOCAL PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Sec. 774.001. MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AMONG MUNICIPALITIES AND

COUNTIES IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. (a) On

request, a county shall provide emergency medical services for a

municipality within that county or for a county bordering that

county if:

(1) an agreement has been executed between the county and the

requesting municipality or county;

(2) an emergency exists in the requesting municipality or

county;

(3) the requesting municipality or county is temporarily unable

to provide its own emergency medical services;

(4) the request is for services that the county receiving the

request provides or contracts to provide for persons within its

jurisdiction; and

(5) the county providing the services will be able to provide

reasonable protection to persons within its jurisdiction while

providing services for the requesting municipality or county.

(b) On request, a municipality shall provide emergency medical

services for the county in which that municipality is located or

for a municipality located within 30 miles of that municipality

if:

(1) an agreement has been executed between the municipality and

the requesting municipality or county;

(2) an emergency exists in the requesting municipality or

county;

(3) the requesting municipality or county is temporarily unable

to provide its own emergency medical services;

(4) the request is for services that the municipality receiving

the request provides or contracts to provide for persons within

its jurisdiction; and

(5) the municipality providing the services will be able to

provide reasonable protection to persons within its jurisdiction

while providing services for the requesting municipality or

county.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 774.002. EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PAY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL

TECHNICIANS. (a) A municipality or other political subdivision

that employs emergency medical technicians may pay educational

incentive pay to employees holding certificates from the Texas

Department of Health as emergency medical technicians.

(b) The educational incentive pay is in addition to any other

form of compensation provided by law for emergency medical

technicians.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 774.003. EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDED BY COUNTIES.

(a) The commissioners court of a county may provide for

emergency ambulance service in the county, including the

provision of necessary equipment, personnel, and maintenance for

the service.

(b) In providing for the services authorized by Subsection (a),

a commissioners court may enter into exclusive agreements with

any municipality, hospital district, sheriff's office, fire

department, private ambulance service, or other agency or entity

that the commissioners court finds to be suitably organized to

provide efficient emergency ambulance service in the county. The

governing body of a municipality or hospital district in which

emergency ambulance service is to be rendered must approve an

agreement made with the commissioners court to provide that

service in the municipality or hospital district.

(c) A commissioners court operating under this section may

expend county funds to defray the expense of establishing,

operating, and maintaining the emergency ambulance service in the

county. The funds may be expended whether the service is provided

directly by the county or by agreement with some other

governmental agency or private entity.

(d) A commissioners court providing emergency ambulance service

under this section shall establish reasonable fees for the

service. The commissioners court or any other agency or entity

performing the service may charge and collect the fees.

(e) A commissioners court may make special provisions for

rendering emergency ambulance service to indigent persons.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 915, Sec. 20, eff. Aug. 28,

1995.

Sec. 774.004. MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER RESPONSE ACCOMPANYING

MUNICIPAL AMBULANCE RESPONSE OUTSIDE MUNICIPALITY. (a) This

section applies to an agreement between two municipalities under

Section 774.001(b) or between a county and a municipality under

Section 774.001(b) or 774.003.

(b) The agreement may authorize police officers employed by the

responding municipality to secure the scene of an emergency,

accident, fire, or disaster to which the municipality's emergency

ambulance service responds under the agreement.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

479, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.