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Committee supports state joining EMS licensure compact to ease cross‑border practice
Summary
The committee recommended a do-pass for House Bill 412 to join the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact, enabling EMS personnel licensed in other compact states to practice in New Mexico and easing staffing shortages, especially in border regions; administration costs would be covered by fees.
The committee recommended a do-pass for House Bill 412, which would authorize New Mexico to join the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact and recognize out-of-state EMS licenses for practice privileges inside New Mexico.
Representative presenting for Leader Gail Armstrong said the compact is part of a broader effort to accept interstate compacts for health-care workers and open New Mexico to practitioners licensed in other states. An expert witness described the compact's benefit for border regions: "This is especially important for border regions as the FIR notes. So if you're, you know, you have a paramedic or an EMT in El Paso, we would want you to be able to practice easily in Las Cruces," the witness said.
Supporters said the compact would help address shortages in emergency medical services, where the state has a shortfall of EMTs in the thousands. Committee members asked about fees and administration; sponsors said states can charge fees to cover the administrative cost and that the Real Estate and Licensing Department (or comparable licensing board) would need roughly one-third of an FTE per compact to administer the work, funded by license fees.
The committee recorded a do-pass recommendation. Supporters said the compact is already in use in about 20 other states and would improve cross-border emergency staffing and mutual aid.
