HB 518 Summary

• Establishes a 19-member emergency response vehicle noise task force within the Department of Health to examine the use and effectiveness of lights and sirens by emergency response vehicles.

• Task force must evaluate the impact of sirens at night on communities surrounding emergency response facilities in urban and rural areas and assess the relative effectiveness of using lights alone versus lights and sirens at night.

• Task force shall recommend rules on appropriate use of lights and sirens by emergency response vehicles for adoption by relevant agencies.

• Membership includes the Director of Health (chairperson), representatives from each county's police and fire departments, EMS personnel, trauma centers, the state EMS advisory committee, neighborhood boards, and representatives from the blind and deaf communities.

• Task force must meet at least biannually beginning in 2021 and submit written reports of findings and recommendations to the legislature and county councils at least 40 days before each regular legislative session beginning in 2022; Act takes effect July 1, 2021.