Senate Bill 518 proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory framework for emergency care providers in Montana by transferring licensing authority from the Board of Medical Examiners to the Department of Labor and Industry. The bill reduces the size of the Board of Medical Examiners and eliminates the requirement for an emergency care provider to be a member. It introduces new definitions, such as "community-integrated health care," and grants the Department of Labor and Industry the authority to establish rules and standards for emergency care providers. The bill also includes a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026, to facilitate a smooth transition to the new regulatory structure.

In addition to the changes in oversight, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the definitions and roles of emergency care providers, including the introduction of terms like "nontransporting medical unit" and the roles of "first responders" and "volunteer emergency care providers." It allows employers to elect to include volunteers and specific members as employees for workers' compensation purposes, requiring written notice to insurers regarding coverage. The bill emphasizes interdepartmental cooperation in handling complaints related to emergency medical services, ensuring efficient resource use and avoiding duplication of efforts.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1(1): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1(2): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1(3): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1(4): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1(5): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1(6): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_1: 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(1): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(10): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(11): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(12): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(13): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(2): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(3): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(4): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(5): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(6): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(7): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(8): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X(9): 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502
SB0518_X: 2-15-1731, 37-1-401, 37-3-102, 37-3-203, 39-71-118, 50-6-104, 50-6-105, 50-6-201, 50-6-202, 50-6-203, 50-6-302, 50-6-323, 50-32-603, 61-2-502