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Committee hears bill to allow ambulance-license transfers, close substation model for part-time posts
Summary
House Bill 1394 would allow transfer of ambulance licenses with DHHS approval and limit creation of 'substations' — part-time posted ambulances — after testimony showed substations sometimes failed to provide reliable coverage.
The House Human Services Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 1394, which would make two primary changes to ambulance licensing: permit ambulance-license transfers subject to approval by the Department of Health and Human Services, and prevent creation of new "substations" — part-time ambulance postings that the bill's proponents say have not reliably provided coverage.
Representative Pat Heinert (District 32) introduced the bill, saying it "allows for ambulance licensing to be transferred subject to approval of the State Department of Health and Human Services" and "closes the door on substation licensure." He said the changes are intended to improve system reliability when services consolidate or change ownership.
Adam Parker of the North Dakota EMS Association testified in support and circulated an amendment intended to clarify existing statute language about stations, substations and assigned service areas. "Substations are generally former ambulances that no longer provide full time coverage," Parker said, and he told the committee that part-time substations sometimes fail to respond reliably, producing long response times for residents in those assigned areas.
Parker and other supporters asked that existing substations be allowed to continue under the amendment while new substations be blocked going forward. "We would allow existing substations to continue," Parker said, adding the department could address problems through rulemaking and that some substations function adequately while others do not.
Chris Price, director of the state's EMS unit at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the department supports the bill and would treat license transfers the same as new applications, noting the department's statutory needs-assessment and multi-year budget review for licensing. "There is quite a process," Price said, "we just don't want to hand out licenses like trading cards."
Opponents raised concerns that the bill as originally worded could force established multi-station services to close additional stations or alter local operations. Corey Johnson, assistant fire chief for the Williston Fire Department, said Williston operates a headquarters and two additional stations that the department has treated as a single licensed service and that mandatory substation relicensing or sunset rules could require closure of stations. Johnson said the amended language circulated by supporters would meet the Williston department's needs.
Committee members asked how fees and licensing reviews work and whether transfers would prompt reallocation of service areas. Price said transfers would be assessed by the department using the same application, needs assessment and budget-review process as any new service. Supporters said the bill is intended to help transitions when a nonprofit sells an ambulance operation or when a rural district is created to assume an operation.
The committee took testimony from EMS association representatives, the department and local respondents and closed the hearing without taking final action.
