SB694 - Ambulance Licensing Amendments

• Extends ambulance licensing authority to cities of the second class and counties in addition to first-class cities, allowing them to own, operate, permit, control, manage, franchise, license, and regulate emergency medical services and ambulances.

• Permits cities and counties to establish standards, rules, and regulations for ambulance services equal to or greater than state minimums, with authority to set rates, fees, charges, and other assessments.

• Allows cities and counties to enter into interlocal agreements with other municipalities and counties regarding emergency and nonemergency medical services, exercising these powers as cooperative governmental units.

• Clarifies that ambulance service extensions beyond municipal or county boundaries do not require subsidies from the extending jurisdiction, with all costs borne by patient user fees or subsidies from the receiving jurisdiction.

• Requires that exclusive ambulance franchises provide periodic opportunities for competitive solicitation of franchise applications rather than being issued without competition.