What’s on fire this time?What’s on fire this time?

Assembly Bill-2917Assembly Bill-2917

Passed in 2008, authored by Passed in 2008, authored by Assembly Member Alberto Assembly Member Alberto Torrico, 20th District, Fremont Torrico, 20th District, Fremont area.area.

Access to full Access to full AB-2917 bill bill available on Nor-Cal website.available on Nor-Cal website.

Implementation by July 1, 2010 Implementation by July 1, 2010 for all EMTs.for all EMTs.

Assembly Bill-2917Assembly Bill-2917

EMSA will institute a statewide EMT EMSA will institute a statewide EMT certification centralized registry.certification centralized registry.

All EMTs will be required to complete All EMTs will be required to complete a background check both DOJ & FBI.a background check both DOJ & FBI.

Subsequent Arrest notification Subsequent Arrest notification service through DOJ.service through DOJ.

Guidelines for disciplinary orders Guidelines for disciplinary orders and conditions of probation.and conditions of probation.

Why?Why?

In recent years a series of articles and In recent years a series of articles and investigations by the Sacramento Bee and investigations by the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles times have highlighted the Los Angeles times have highlighted inconsistent and disconcerting EMT inconsistent and disconcerting EMT disciplinary enforcement.disciplinary enforcement.

The result has been EMT with various and The result has been EMT with various and significant criminal backgrounds acquiring significant criminal backgrounds acquiring and/or maintaining licenses.and/or maintaining licenses.

Criminal infractions have included child Criminal infractions have included child sexual abuse, domestic violence, patient sexual abuse, domestic violence, patient neglect, and narcotic convictions. neglect, and narcotic convictions.

Why?Why?

Statewide, there are 61 EMT certifying Statewide, there are 61 EMT certifying authorities: authorities: – 31 LEMSA and 30 public safety 31 LEMSA and 30 public safety

agencies.agencies. Only 17 of the 31 LEMSAs require DOJ Only 17 of the 31 LEMSAs require DOJ

background checks.background checks. Data about the public safety agency checks Data about the public safety agency checks

has not been collected. has not been collected. According to DOJ rules, the certifying According to DOJ rules, the certifying

agencies that require criminal background agencies that require criminal background checks cannot share the criminal history checks cannot share the criminal history information with each other when an EMT information with each other when an EMT applies to work in another jurisdiction.applies to work in another jurisdiction.

Why?Why?

California is the only state that does California is the only state that does not certify EMT at the state level. not certify EMT at the state level.

In addition, EMT are the only allied In addition, EMT are the only allied health professionals in California health professionals in California who are not state-licensed and the who are not state-licensed and the state lacks a statewide registry on state lacks a statewide registry on EMT licensure.EMT licensure.

What?What?

RequiresRequires the California the California Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA) to establish and Agency (EMSA) to establish and maintain a centralized registry for maintain a centralized registry for monitoring EMT certification and monitoring EMT certification and adopt related regulations. adopt related regulations.

What?What?

RequiresRequires EMSA to adopt regulations EMSA to adopt regulations that standardize criminal background that standardize criminal background check processes and rely on California check processes and rely on California Department of Justice (DOJ) data and Department of Justice (DOJ) data and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data.data.

RequiresRequires LEMSA to verify resulting LEMSA to verify resulting background checks.background checks.

RequiresRequires a DOJ-Subsequent Arrest a DOJ-Subsequent Arrest Notification Service. Notification Service.

What?What?

RequiresRequires EMSA to adopt EMSA to adopt regulations pertaining to: regulations pertaining to:

    a) Disciplinary processes a) Disciplinary processes includingincluding suspensions suspensions and probation. and probation.

b) Issuance of certification and b) Issuance of certification and recertification.recertification.

What?What?

Authorizes LEMSA to investigate Authorizes LEMSA to investigate disciplinary issues and establishes disciplinary issues and establishes related processes.related processes.

Significantly expands the reasons Significantly expands the reasons an EMT may have a certification an EMT may have a certification or license denied, suspended, or or license denied, suspended, or revoked.revoked.

DefinitionsDefinitions

““CCriminal riminal OOffender ffender RRecord ecord IInformation” or “nformation” or “CORICORI””

Records and data compiled by criminal justice Records and data compiled by criminal justice agencies for purposes of identifying criminal agencies for purposes of identifying criminal offenders and of maintaining as to each such offenders and of maintaining as to each such offender a summary of arrests, pretrial offender a summary of arrests, pretrial proceedings, the nature and disposition of proceedings, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing, incarceration, criminal charges, sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation, and releaserehabilitation, and release..

DefinitionsDefinitions

““Subsequent Arrest Notification Subsequent Arrest Notification Report”Report”Reports issued by the Reports issued by the DDepartment epartment oof f JJustice (DOJ) to ustice (DOJ) to the LEMSA to receive state summary criminal history the LEMSA to receive state summary criminal history information to assist in fulfilling employment, information to assist in fulfilling employment, licensing, or certification duties, upon the arrest of licensing, or certification duties, upon the arrest of any person whose any person whose fingerprints are maintained on filefingerprints are maintained on file at the DOJ as the result of an application for licensing, at the DOJ as the result of an application for licensing, employment, or certification, or approval. Subsequent employment, or certification, or approval. Subsequent arrest notification shall consist only of any offense an arrest notification shall consist only of any offense an individual is arrested for after the individual’s original individual is arrested for after the individual’s original fingerprint date.fingerprint date.

DefinitionsDefinitions

Actions considered evidence of a “Actions considered evidence of a “threat to threat to public health and safetypublic health and safety””

Fraud to procure a license; gross negligence; Fraud to procure a license; gross negligence; repeated negligent acts; incompetence; fraud, repeated negligent acts; incompetence; fraud, dishonest, corrupt act for qualification of license; dishonest, corrupt act for qualification of license; conviction of any crime related to qualifications, conviction of any crime related to qualifications, functions, duties; violate/conspire to violate any functions, duties; violate/conspire to violate any provision of bill; violate any Federal/State statute provision of bill; violate any Federal/State statute or regulation on drugs; addiction or excess use of or regulation on drugs; addiction or excess use of alcohol or drugs outside the supervision of medical alcohol or drugs outside the supervision of medical control; irrational behavior/impaired ability to control; irrational behavior/impaired ability to function; unprofessional conduct (patient abuse, function; unprofessional conduct (patient abuse, patient confidentiality, sexually related offense) patient confidentiality, sexually related offense)

DataData

Public Access to Central Registry Public Access to Central Registry DataData

The following EMT certification information will be The following EMT certification information will be available to the public:available to the public:

(a) First name(a) First name

(b) Last name(b) Last name

(c) Middle name, if available(c) Middle name, if available

(d) EMT certifying entity(d) EMT certifying entity

(e) Registry number(e) Registry number

DataData

(f) Current certification status(f) Current certification status (1) Active(1) Active (2) Expired(2) Expired (3) Denied(3) Denied (4) Revoked(4) Revoked (5) Suspension(5) Suspension

(A) Suspension effective date(A) Suspension effective date(B) Suspension expiration date(B) Suspension expiration date

(6) Placed on probation(6) Placed on probation(A) Probation effective date(A) Probation effective date

(B) Probation expiration date(B) Probation expiration date (7) LEMSA that took certification action(7) LEMSA that took certification action

How?How?

““Grandfathered” requirement of the bill:Grandfathered” requirement of the bill:

The individual must have received a DOJ The individual must have received a DOJ criminal background check.criminal background check.

The criminal background check must include The criminal background check must include subsequent arrest notification.subsequent arrest notification.

The The employeremployer must certify to EMSA that the must certify to EMSA that the individual had a criminal background check individual had a criminal background check which includes a subsequent arrest which includes a subsequent arrest notification and that the individual has not notification and that the individual has not committed any sexually related offenses committed any sexually related offenses under PC #290; not convicted of murder, under PC #290; not convicted of murder, attempted murder; or murder for hire; not attempted murder; or murder for hire; not convicted of 2 or more felonies; is not on convicted of 2 or more felonies; is not on parole or probation for any felony.parole or probation for any felony.

How? Initial How? Initial CertificationCertification

Apply Online at : at : www.NorCalEMS.org Register (one time) and sign in.Register (one time) and sign in. Follow online directions to complete Follow online directions to complete

application.application. Print three copies of Nor-Cal Live Scan Print three copies of Nor-Cal Live Scan

Service form. Follow form directions Service form. Follow form directions and and locations for a live scan provider.

A laptop is available in the office of A laptop is available in the office of Nor-Cal for your convenience to apply Nor-Cal for your convenience to apply online.online.

How? RecertificationHow? Recertification

Apply On-Line at : Apply On-Line at : www.NorCalEMS.org Register (one time) and sign in.Register (one time) and sign in. Follow online directions to complete Follow online directions to complete

application.application. If not grandfathered in, print three If not grandfathered in, print three

copies of Nor-Cal Live Scan Service copies of Nor-Cal Live Scan Service form. Follow form directions and form. Follow form directions and locations for a live scan provider.

A laptop is available in the office of A laptop is available in the office of Nor-Cal for your convenience to Nor-Cal for your convenience to apply online.

How?How?

• Live Scan form available Live Scan form available on-line and pick up at Nor-Cal.and pick up at Nor-Cal.

• Live Scan sheet pre-filled out. Form Live Scan sheet pre-filled out. Form directions and a website for Live directions and a website for Live Scan locations and mapping Scan locations and mapping provided.provided.

• EMSA will notify Nor-Cal of eligible EMSA will notify Nor-Cal of eligible EMTs. Nor-Cal will issue a EMTs. Nor-Cal will issue a temporary certification card and temporary certification card and EMSA will issue a “hard card”.EMSA will issue a “hard card”.

CostCost

• EMSA feesEMSA fees Certification: Certification: $75.00$75.00

($22 central registry, $38 DOJ-CORI ($22 central registry, $38 DOJ-CORI function, $15 for Admin. Law Judge.)function, $15 for Admin. Law Judge.)

Recertification: Recertification: $37.00 (No DOJ fee.)$37.00 (No DOJ fee.)

• Live Scan feesLive Scan fees Range from $18.00 - $43.00Range from $18.00 - $43.00

• Nor-Cal feesNor-Cal fees CertificationCertification: $45.00: $45.00 Recertification:Recertification: $28.00 $28.00

AssistanceAssistance

EMSAEMSAhttp://www.emsa.ca.gov

DOJDOJhttp://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.php

Nor-Cal EMSNor-Cal EMShttp://www.norcalems.org

ContactContact

Bill MastenBill MastenNor-Cal EMS Inc.Nor-Cal EMS Inc.

43 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA 9600343 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA 96003

BMasten@NorCalEMS.orgBMasten@NorCalEMS.org

530-229-3979-office530-229-3979-office

530-410-2948-cell530-410-2948-cell