SENATE BILL NO. 19

January 13, 2021, Introduced by Senator ZORN and referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services.

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

"Public health code,"

(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 20955.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 20955. (1) An individual who is retired from practicing as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator and wishes to donate his or her expertise for the patient care of indigent and needy individuals in this state or for the patient care of individuals in medically underserved areas of this state may obtain a special retiree license to practice as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator from which he or she is retired by submitting an application to the department under this section. An applicant shall submit an application for a special retiree license on a form provided by the department and shall include each of the following:

(a) Documentation that the individual has been previously licensed to practice as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator in this state and that his or her license was in good standing at the time his or her license expired.

(b) Acknowledgment and documentation that the applicant will not receive any payment or compensation, either direct or indirect, or have the expectation of any payment or compensation, for any patient care provided under the special retiree license.

(c) If the applicant has been out of practice for 3 or more years, documentation that, during the 3 years immediately preceding the application, he or she has attended at least 2/3 of the continuing education requirements established by the department for the renewal of a license for a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator.

(2) If the department determines that the application of the individual satisfies the requirements of subsection (1) and that the individual meets the requirements for a license under this part, the department shall grant a special retiree license to the applicant. A licensee seeking renewal under this section shall provide the department with an updated acknowledgment and documentation as described in subsection (1)(b). The department shall not charge a fee for the issuance or renewal of a special retiree license under this section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an individual who is granted a special retiree license under this section and who accepts the privilege of practicing as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator in this state is subject to all the provisions of this part applicable to practicing as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator, including those provisions concerning continuing education and disciplinary action.

(4) For purposes of this section, an individual is considered retired from practicing as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator if the individual's license has expired with the individual's intention of ceasing to engage, for remuneration, in practicing as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator.

(5) An individual who is granted a special retiree license under this section shall only perform activities in a manner that is consistent with his or her education, licensure, and approved medical control authority protocols as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator for which he or she was licensed before his or her retirement.