2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 40:1235.1 — Qualifications to operate emergency medical response vehicles; vehicle requirements; equipment; penalties

§1235.1.  Qualifications to operate emergency medical response vehicles; vehicle requirements; equipment; penalties

A.(1)  No person shall conduct, maintain, or operate an emergency medical response vehicle as an emergency vehicle on any street, alley, or public way or place in the state unless the vehicle is staffed with at least one individual who is a Louisiana state-certified nationally registered emergency medical technician.

(2)  No person shall provide services in any capacity on an emergency medical response vehicle unless he is the holder of a certification by the Department of Health and Hospitals or its agent as a first responder; or a certification of an emergency medical technician issued by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians; or a certificate of licensure as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; or is a physician or surgeon licensed to practice medicine by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.  No person shall provide services in any capacity without holding a valid certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation issued by the American National Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

B.  No person shall conduct, maintain, or operate an emergency medical response vehicle as an emergency vehicle which:

(1)  Does not carry with it as part of its regular equipment the list of equipment for emergency medical response vehicles as prescribed in rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals based on the recommendations of the Ambulance Standards Committee of the Emergency Medical Services Task Force as established by the assistant secretary of the office of public health.  This list shall be based upon the recommendations of the American College of Surgeons as provided in R.S. 40:1235(A)(3).  The list shall be consistent with the scope of practice for emergency medical technicians established in R.S. 40:1234.  After initial promulgation, such list shall be subject to review after four years and anytime thereafter.  The list shall not be changed more often than once every four years.  However, nothing shall preclude the Department of Health and Hospitals from supplementing the list with state of the art, newly developed devices, equipment, or medications approved by the Ambulance Standards Committee of the Emergency Medical Services Task Force that may be carried in lieu of other items on the list of equipment.

(2)  Is not marked with the company name or logo on both sides and the rear and does not have fully visible and audible warning signals in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals.

(3)  Does not meet the minimum motor vehicle safety standards as prescribed in the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Inspection Act, R.S. 32:1302 et seq.

(4)  Is not insured in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:1236.4.

(5)  Is not owned or leased by the certified ambulance service operating the vehicle.

C.(1)  The Department of Health and Hospitals or its designee shall be empowered to conduct inspections of emergency medical response vehicles.  The department shall certify such vehicles and shall have the authority to deny, probate, suspend, or revoke certifications.  The department shall also have the authority to report any violations to the appropriate district attorney's office.

(2)  Certification issued by the Department of Health and Hospitals shall serve as authorization of the ambulance service to operate the emergency medical response vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

D.  Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.  The penalty prescribed by this Subsection shall be doubled for any subsequent offense.

Acts 1997, No. 297, §2.