2020 California Code
Health and Safety Code - HSC
DIVISION 2.5 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
CHAPTER 5 - Medical Control
Section 1798.8.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this division, medical control by a local EMS agency medical director, or medical direction and management of an emergency medical services system, as described in this chapter, shall not be construed to do any of the following:

(1) Limit, supplant, prohibit, or otherwise alter a public safety agency’s authority to directly receive and process requests for assistance originating within the public safety agency’s territorial jurisdiction through the emergency “911” system established pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 53100) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code. This paragraph does not supersede the local EMS agency’s authority to adopt and implement emergency lifesaving instructions or EMD prearrival instructions.

(2) Authorize or permit a local EMS agency to delegate, assign, or enter into a contract in contravention of subdivision (b) of Section 53110 of the Government Code.

(3) Authorize or permit a local EMS agency to unilaterally reduce a public safety agency’s response mode below that of the EMS transport provider, prevent a public safety response, or alter the deployment of public safety emergency response resources within the public safety agency’s territorial jurisdiction.

(4) Authorize or permit a local EMS agency to prevent a public safety agency from providing mutual aid pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(b) A public safety agency’s adherence to the policies, procedures, and protocols adopted by a local EMS agency does not constitute a transfer of any of the public safety agency’s authorities regarding the administration of emergency medical services.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 389, Sec. 4. (SB 438) Effective January 1, 2020.)