41-1834. Authority for operation of air and other ambulance service; contract for aircraft service; precluded uses

A. For the primary purpose of providing the most timely, efficient and comprehensive emergency medical services possible, the director may, subject to the availability of funds, purchase, equip, staff and be responsible for maintaining aircraft, including helicopters, or may lease or contract for such equipment and services. Aircraft and helicopters shall also be used in law enforcement activities. The aircraft provided by this section may be made available for emergency medical services at any time there is a medical emergency requiring the use of evacuation aircraft, as determined by a law enforcement agency or a physician. Emergency medical air evacuation shall normally take precedence over routine law enforcement missions. The director shall make the final decision relative to such aircraft utilization.

B. Each medical evacuation aircraft or helicopter shall be capable of carrying two litter patients and one paramedic in addition to the ambulance pilot.

C. The director may contract with a private firm, a corporation or an individual for the maintenance of the aircraft, including helicopters.

D. The director may enter into contracts with private firms or individuals for emergency surface or air ambulance services when no other such services are readily available or when deemed to be in the best interests of the state.

E. Medical evacuation aircraft, including helicopters, operated by the department shall not be used to provide transportation for officials of the state or any of its political subdivisions. This does not preclude the use of medical evacuation aircraft by such officials when required in the course of a law enforcement function or emergency or when such official is the victim of an emergency medical situation.

F. Notwithstanding subsection E, the director may enter into interagency service agreements with other state agencies for the use of helicopters and other aircraft that the department will operate to provide aviation services on an availability basis when the department deems that these services are in the best interests of this state. These services may be in addition to the services the department provides pursuant to this chapter but shall not preclude the delivery of emergency evacuation services provided for under this chapter. The amount of monies collected from state agencies for aviation services shall not exceed the operational costs of the aircraft.