California Emergency Medical Services Authority

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EMS Authority's Mandates Summary

Mandated activities for the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMS Authority or EMSA) are set forth in Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code. A summary of each mandate, including a description of compliance activities, and a synopsis of current and future status is provided below.

EMS Authority's Mandates Summary
Mandate Compliance Activities Current and Future Status
1. Coordinate and integrate statewide activities for EMS
  • Coordinate & integrate statewide all EMS programs
This will continue to be an umbrella requirement for EMSA.
2. Establish training and certification/ licensing standards, and scope of practice for prehospital care personnel
  • Develop & maintain regulations for school bus drivers, child day care workers, lifeguards, public safety personnel, layperson defibrillation, EMT-Is, EMT-IIs, and paramedics
  • Evaluate standards
  • Obtain public input
 This is a major activity. Continual evaluation and revision of standards will be needed to meet future requirements.
3. License/relicense paramedics
  • Determine eligibility (i.e., applications, background, CE)
  • Issue licenses
  • Maintain licensure data base
  • Collect fees
  • Provide liaison role
 This program will continue to require major departmental effort because it fulfills a high public service need. The program is highly visible, production oriented, and fee supported.
4. Investigate and discipline paramedics
  • Gather evidence and conduct interviews
  • Balance health and safety with due process
  • Form local/state partnership
  • Coordinate investigations with State Attorney General & others
 There is a high need for this program; however, it is resource intensive and can be complex for local entities. Evaluate staff resources.
5. Encourage EMS system development and improvement
  • Provide technical assistance
  • Distribute funding to support LEMSAs programs
 This will continue to be a major role for EMSA and will require more effort in the future.
6. Ensure effective emergency medical care
  • Maintain up-to-date scope of practice standards
 This will continue to be an umbrella requirement for all EMSA programs.
7. Respond to medical disasters, mobilize and coordinate medical mutual aid
  • Identify participating organizations' roles
  • Process and disseminate information
  • Coordinate mutual aid and direct state medical assistance
 Medical disasters are low probability but high impact events. When they occur EMSA staff from other programs are redirected to the emergency. State response capability has been negatively impacted by the reduction of the CA National Guard.
8. Coordinate disaster planning and preparedness through various agencies
  • Provide guidance, technical assistance, and funding
  • Participate in task forces
  • Train staff
  • Provide disaster training exercises
 Program will continue to demand staff time and will be adversely affected by the down sizing of local government and possible reduction of RDMHC funding.
9. Assist OES with EMS component of state disaster medical plan
  • Write state disaster medical plan
  • Staff OES committees
 Major commitment. OES sets the agenda.
10. Provide planning & implementation guidelines for EMS systems. Receive and review EMS plans.
  • Update guidelines planning and implementation effort
  • Review EMS plans
  • Provide technical assistance to LEMSAS
  • Guideline revisions
 This effort provides an evaluation tool for EMS plan enforcement. The EMS guidelines need revision.
11. Develop standards for trauma system. Review LEMSA trauma system plans.
  • Review trauma system plans
  • Fund trauma system development
  • Update regulations for trauma systems
 This is a major effort and more technical assistance will be needed in the future. Future plan will be to encourage trauma system development with block grant funding. The trauma systems regulations are currently being revised.
12. Assess each local EMS system
  • Evaluate program effectiveness using available data and other tools
 This is a major role which should be expanded. EMS assessments might be tied to block grant funding in the future.
13. Provide technical assistance to LEMSAs and providers
  • Respond to questions
  • Provide link to resources
  • Evaluate local needs
  • Update EMSA home page
 The department needs to be more pro-active in the future perhaps through workshops, site visits, and public forums.
14. Establish minimum standards for poison control centers
  • Maintain up-to-date regulations
  • Perform site reviews
  • Reduce, consolidate, and centralize centers for efficiency and economy
This has been a top priority for a number of years. Future needs are: solving ongoing funding problems, and integration of hazardous materials response. Continue to pursue further efficiencies & economies in the centers.
15. Approve training programs
  • Approve all state-operated programs (EMS personnel)
  • Approve child day care worker first aid and CPR training programs
 This requires minimal effort and may decrease with the establishment of national approving bodies.
16. Chair interdepartmental committee on EMS
  • The committee was not useful in the past
  • Coordination now is on an "as needed" basis
 The need for this committee should be revisited. The statute is currently ignored.
17. EMSC program
  • Implement model
  • Revise model as needed
  • Fund implementation
  • Pursue funding (i.e., grants)
 This is a major effort for improving emergency care given to children and will remain a high priority in the future.
18. Staff the Commission for a minimum of four meetings per year
  • Arrange meetings
  • Provide staffing for five meetings per year as requested by commission
  • Prepare meeting packets for members
 This is a major effort/cost. By law, the commission must approve all standards and regulations adopted by EMSA. Investigate need for Commission legal counsel.
19. Provide minimum standards for medical control
  • Incorporate into various regulations
 Intensified effort could be needed in the future depending on system changes.
20. Approve alternative base hospitals
  • Review and approve request from LEMSAs
Minimum effort which could increase a little in the future as more hospitals close.
21. Exclusive operating areas
  • Update guidelines
  • Review transportation plans
 Major effort in the past but slow now pending a Supreme Court decision.
22. Develop and maintain data systems
  • Estimate the Center for Disease Control (CDC) minimum data set
  • Sponsor development of a set of clinical indicators
  • Provide funding for local EMS data systems
  • Build information system for universal planning use
 The component is mandated, but not the detailed activities. More effort is needed.
23. Adopt rules and regulations as necessary for special needs
  • Identify and respond as needed (e.g., air ambulance, dispatchers, public education programs, such as injury control)
 This is a vital component to implement and more effort is needed, especially in public relations and education activities.