Senate Bill No. 1229 (SB1229 File No. 573) is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing the emergency medical services (EMS) system in Connecticut. The bill amends section 19a-177 of the general statutes to require EMS organizations to submit detailed quarterly data, including the number of calls, reasons for service, service levels, response times, and information on passed, cancelled, and mutual aid calls. The commissioner is required to compile an annual report with this data, categorized by municipality and urban, suburban, or rural status, and present it to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. The bill also introduces penalties for non-compliance, with a civil penalty of up to one hundred dollars per day for failure to report the required data, while exempting state agencies from these penalties. Additionally, the bill mandates the adoption of the National Trauma Data Bank's standards and requires an annual report to the General Assembly's public health committee.

The bill also includes provisions for the establishment of an Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board within the Department of Public Health, effective October 1, 2023, by repealing and replacing section 19a-178a of the general statutes. This board will be tasked with conducting an annual study of EMS services, analyzing data, evaluating trends, and identifying areas at risk of delayed EMS response. The findings of this study must be reported to the Public Health Committee of the General Assembly by January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter. The bill outlines the fiscal impact of these changes, including the costs associated with the additional responsibilities and the support of a half-time Epidemiologist I in the DPH's Office of EMS. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2023, with certain sections effective upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable:
File No. 573: