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2008 SESSION


CHAPTER 660
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 32.1-111.5 and 32.1-111.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to temporary suspension of certificates and permits pending hearing.
[H 191]
Approved March 27, 2008

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 32.1-111.5 and 32.1-111.8 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-111.5. Certification and recertification of emergency medical services personnel.

A. The Board shall prescribe by regulation the qualifications required for certification of emergency medical care attendants, including those qualifications necessary for authorization to follow Do Not Resuscitate Orders pursuant to § 54.1-2987.1.

B. Each person desiring certification as emergency medical services personnel shall apply to the Commissioner upon a form prescribed by the Board. Upon receipt of such application, the Commissioner shall cause the applicant to be examined or otherwise determined to be qualified for certification. If the Commissioner determines that the applicant meets the requirements of such regulations, he shall issue a certificate to the applicant. An emergency medical services personnel certificate so issued shall be valid for a period required by law or prescribed by the Board. The certificates may be renewed after successful reexamination of the holder. Any certificate so issued may be suspended at any time that the Commissioner determines that the holder no longer meets the qualifications prescribed for such emergency medical services personnel. The Commissioner may temporarily suspend any certificate without notice, pending a hearing or informal fact-finding conference, if the Commissioner finds that there is a substantial danger to public health or safety. When the Commissioner has temporarily suspended a certificate pending a hearing, the Commissioner shall seek an expedited hearing in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

C. The Board shall prescribe by regulation procedures and the qualifications required for the recertification of emergency medical services personnel. Such regulations shall include (i) authorization for continuing education and skills testing, in lieu of a written examination, with the signature of the relevant operational medical director; (ii) authorization for the relevant operational medical director to require the written examinations administered or approved by the Office of Emergency Medical Services, as deemed necessary, of certain emergency medical services personnel; (iii) authorization for exemptions from the written test for recertification by the relevant operational medical director; (iv) triennial recertification of advanced life support providers; (v) approval by the Office of Emergency Medical Services of continuing education modules in which each module may be tested separately; and (vi) effective on January 1, 1998, a sequential option for the completion of the skills tests for recertification.

D. The Commissioner may issue a temporary certificate when he finds that it is in the public interest. A temporary certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding ninety days.

§ 32.1-111.8. Revocation and suspension of permits.

Whenever an agency or an emergency medical services vehicle owned or operated by an agency is in violation of any provision of this article or any applicable regulation, the Commissioner shall have power to revoke or suspend such agency's permit and the permits of all emergency medical services vehicles owned or operated by the agency. The Commissioner may temporarily suspend any permit for agencies or emergency medical services vehicles without notice, pending a hearing or informal fact-finding conference, if the Commissioner finds that there is a substantial danger to public health or safety. When the Commissioner has temporarily suspended a permit pending a hearing, the Commissioner shall seek an expedited hearing in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).