36-2212. Certificate of registration to operate an ambulance; termination on change in ownership; fees; exemption

A. A person shall not operate an ambulance in this state unless the ambulance has a certificate of registration and complies with this article and the rules, standards and criteria adopted pursuant to this article.

B. A person may obtain a certificate of registration to operate an ambulance by submitting an application on a form prescribed by the director and by demonstrating to the director's satisfaction that the applicant is in compliance with this article and all rules, standards and criteria adopted by the director for the operation of an ambulance.

C. A certificate of registration issued under this section terminates upon any change of ownership or control of the ambulance. Following any change of ownership, the new owner of an ambulance shall apply for and receive a new certificate of registration from the director before the ambulance may again be operated in this state. This subsection does not apply if an ambulance service borrows, leases, rents or otherwise obtains a registered ambulance from another ambulance service to temporarily replace an inoperable ambulance.

D. The department shall issue a certificate of registration to a person who complies with the requirements of this article and who pays an initial registration fee. A certificate of registration is valid for one year. However, an ambulance service may request that the department issue an initial certificate of registration that expires before the end of one year in order for the department to conduct an annual inspection of all of the ambulance service's ambulances at one time. A person may renew a certificate of registration by complying with the requirements of this article and by paying a renewal fee prescribed by the director. The fee for initial registration and registration renewal shall not exceed fifty dollars for each ambulance. The department shall base these fees on an amount that approximates the per vehicle costs incurred by the department to administer this chapter. The director shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, fees collected under this subsection in the state general fund. The department shall not charge a registration fee for an ambulance to an ambulance service that operates an ambulance or ambulances only as a volunteer not-for-profit service.