Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council member proposes state statute change allowing municipal first-responder programs
Summary
A council member asked the city to prepare a resolution urging state lawmakers to amend TCA §7-61-102 to permit municipalities to operate their own first-responder/EMS transport programs; council asked the city attorney to draft language for a future meeting.
A Crossville council member proposed the city pursue a state-law change to allow municipalities to establish and operate municipal first-responder programs, including transport services, under municipal governance rather than only through county EMS.
The speaker said the proposed amendment would be to Tennessee Code Annotated §7-61-102 and described it as permissive — allowing municipalities that wish to create their own programs to do so while leaving other jurisdictions unchanged. The council member asked the city attorney to draft a resolution that would be sent to Speaker Sexton and Senator Bailey, if the council supports the approach. "This would be a resolution asking him and Senator Bailey to support an amendment to the Tennessee Code Annotated 7-61-102," the council member said.
Supporters said municipal control could provide local medical direction, training, protocols and program alignment with city needs without requiring additional vehicles, personnel or local tax revenue beyond existing budgeted items; one council member noted many equipment items (backboards, cardiac defibrillators, IV supplies) are already budgeted. Others cautioned about adding complexity to recent county-city EMS and fire coordination and urged careful drafting and stakeholder outreach.
The council asked the city attorney to prepare draft language and add the resolution to the next meeting agenda if the council wishes to pursue it. No final council vote occurred during the work session.
