Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill would let Washoe County opt to regulate EMS locally, lower minimum EMS-licensure age to 16
Summary
Assembly Health and Human Services members heard AB102, which would give Washoe County’s district board of health the option to regulate emergency medical services like Clark County, lower minimum licensure ages to 16 and adjust trainee licensing rules.
The Assembly Health and Human Services Committee heard Assembly Bill 102, a measure addressing emergency medical services (EMS) licensure and local regulation. The sponsor presented the bill as the product of interim work with statewide EMS stakeholders and fire chiefs. The measure would authorize a district board of health in a health district that includes a county with population at least 100,000 but less than 700,000 (the sponsor said this currently describes Washoe County) to elect, by a majority vote of its full membership, to regulate emergency medical services similarly to Clark County.
Other substantive changes in the bill - Lowers the minimum age for licensure as an ambulance attendant, emergency medical technician (EMT), advanced EMT or paramedic from 18 to 16 years old to allow earlier entry into training programs and high-school-based pathways. - Removes a licensing requirement for individuals who are participating solely in a training program for certification as an EMT, AEMT or paramedic and who do not provide care to a sick or injured person or drive an ambulance. - The sponsor and stakeholders filed a proposed amendment (supported by the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association) to retain the State Board of Health’s authority over trauma-treatment provisions in NRS 450B even if the local board elects to regulate EMS; the amendment was described as resolving earlier concerns about fragmenting trauma oversight.
Support and concerns - State and local fire chiefs, firefighter organizations and city representatives spoke in favor. Witnesses (including the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association, Professional Firefighters of Nevada, the City of Reno and others) said the bill would streamline licensure, support local training and workforce pathways, and help EMS recruitment and continuing education. - Renown Health and Nevada Rural Hospital Partners testified neutrally, noting the amendment preserves statewide oversight of trauma-care standards; Renown highlighted its regional role as a Level II trauma center serving a large service area and urged retention of statewide trauma oversight to ensure coordination across jurisdictions.
No formal vote was taken at the hearing; stakeholders said the amendment addresses prior concerns and the bill reflects interim committee deliberations.
Ending: Committee members closed the hearing after stakeholder testimony; the sponsor noted the bill was developed with broad stakeholder input and said the amendment clarified the distribution of trauma authority between state and local bodies.
