§ 2657. Purposes and powers of emergency medical services districts

(a) It shall be the function of each emergency medical services district to foster and coordinate emergency medical services within the district, in the interest of affording adequate ambulance services within the district. Each emergency medical services district shall have powers which include the power to:

(1) buy, acquire, or lease fixtures and equipment related to district activities;

(2) apply for, receive, and accept gifts, bequests, grants-in-aid; State, federal, and local aid; and other forms of financial assistance;

(3) enter into agreements and contracts for furnishing technical, educational, and support services and credentialing related to the provision of emergency medical treatment;

(4) appoint and employ agents and employees;

(5) impose and collect reasonable charges or fees for its services;

(6) monitor the provision of emergency medical services within the district and make recommendations to the State Board regarding licensure, relicensure, and removal or suspension of licensure for ambulance vehicles, ambulance services, and first responder services;

(7) develop, in conjunction with municipal officials, response plans for the provision of emergency medical treatment and transportation by ambulance services and first responder services within the district;

(8) sponsor or approve programs of education approved by the Department of Health which lead to the licensure of emergency medical services personnel;

(9) establish medical control within the district with physicians and representatives of medical facilities, including written protocols with the appropriate officials of receiving hospitals defining their operational procedures;

(10) assist the Department of Health in a program of testing for licensure of emergency medical services personnel;

(11) assure that each affiliated agency in the district has implemented a system for the credentialing of all its licensed emergency medical personnel; and

(12) develop protocols for providing appropriate response times to requests for emergency medical services.

(b) Two or more contiguous emergency medical services districts by a majority vote of the district board in each of the districts concerned may change the mutual boundaries of their emergency medical services districts. The district boards shall report all changes in district boundaries to the State Board.

(c) Property delivered to an ambulance service or first responder service by an emergency medical services district shall remain the property of the district, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Any equipment purchased with federal funds will be managed in accordance with federal guidelines. (Added 1969, No. 112, § 1, eff. April 22, 1969; amended 1969, No. 207 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. March 24, 1970; 1983, No. 226 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2011, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 41.)