Committee hears SB 379 to create voluntary statewide emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator CPR program

The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications opened and closed a hearing on SB 379, a bill that would authorize the state 9‑1‑1 board to establish a statewide Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and Telecommunicator CPR (TCPR) program, create a dedicated fund seeded by a one-time $300,000 transfer from the state 9‑1‑1 operations fund, require annual reporting to the legislature and provide limited civil-liability protections for providers.

Assistant Revisor of Statutes Nick Meyer told the committee SB 379 would permit the state 9‑1‑1 board to adopt statewide EMD and TCPR protocols, contract or employ a medical director to develop and maintain protocols and oversee quality assurance (QA), and establish minimum training standards. Meyer said the fund would be administered by the state 9‑1‑1 board and that interest on the fund would be credited back for program use. He also said the bill includes liability exemptions for contracted medical direction and QA providers and extends certain protections under the Kansas Tort Claims Act to governmental employees who provide EMD or TCPR services, while preserving liability for gross or wanton negligence.

Proponents told the…