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                                                                  S.B. No. 521




AN ACT

relating to exemptions from the law governing emergency medical 
services for certain transfer vehicles and staff and to the minimum 
qualifications for obtaining an emergency medical services 
provider license.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 773.004, Health and 
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  This chapter does not apply to:                                           
		(1)  a ground transfer vehicle and staff used to 
transport a patient who is under a physician's care between medical 
facilities or between a medical facility and a private residence, 
unless it is medically necessary to transport the patient using a 
stretcher;
		(2)  [ground or] air transfer that does not advertise 
as an ambulance service and that is not licensed by the department;
		(3)  the use of ground or air transfer vehicles to 
transport sick or injured persons in a casualty situation that 
exceeds the basic vehicular capacity or capability of emergency 
medical services providers in the area;
		(4)  an industrial ambulance; or                                              
		(5)  a physician, registered nurse, or other health 
care practitioner licensed by this state unless the health care 
practitioner staffs an emergency medical services vehicle 
regularly.
	SECTION 2.  Section 773.042, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 773.042.  BASIC LIFE-SUPPORT EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
SERVICES PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.  A provider qualifies as a basic 
life-support emergency medical services provider if it provides a 
vehicle that is designed for transporting the sick or injured,
[and] has personnel and sufficient equipment and supplies for 
providing basic life support, and is capable of providing emergency 
and nonemergency transportation.
	SECTION 3.  Section 773.057, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
	(e)  In addition to any other qualifications that an 
emergency medical services provider must possess to obtain the type 
of license sought, all emergency medical services providers must 
possess the qualifications required for a basic emergency medical 
services provider under Section 773.042.
	SECTION 4.  (a)  A person or vehicle that becomes subject to 
Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code, and rules adopted under that 
law as a result of the changes in law made by this Act is not 
required to comply with Chapter 773 and applicable rules before 
June 1, 2006.
	(b)  A person who is a licensed emergency medical services 
provider immediately before the effective date of this Act must 
meet the requirements of Section 773.042, Health and Safety Code, 
as amended by this Act, on renewing the license.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           





______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 521 passed the Senate on 
March 31, 2005, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 521 passed the House on 
May 25, 2005, by a non-record vote.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor