President Garcia’s EMS Licensing Bill Unanimously Passes Senate
April 24, 2019
Denver, CO – The Colorado State Senate today voted unanimously to advance SB19-242, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Providers Licensing, a bill sponsored by Senate President Leroy Garcia that would authorize a certified emergency medical services provider to apply for licensure. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
“As a nationally registered paramedic, I know firsthand how our profession is becoming more innovative, particularly when it comes to the training and experience required of providers. Those changes to the field, however, aren’t always reflected in the laws governing it,” said President Garcia. “This bill will not only acknowledge the hard work and continuing education EMS providers have put into their profession, but also improve outcomes and help more Coloradans get the care they need - especially in rural areas of our state.”
Currently, regulation of EMS providers, including paramedics, involves certification – not licensure. SB19-242 would authorize a certified EMS provider to apply for licensure from the Department of Public Health and Environment based on a demonstration that the EMS provider has completed a four-year bachelor’s degree program from an accredited college or university. Additionally, the bill will make amendments to Colorado statutes that currently apply to certified EMS providers, and makes conforming amendments to harmonize the bill with HB19-1172, the Title 12 recodification bill.For more information on SB19-242, please visit: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-242.
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