HB1595 Summary

• Adds definitions for "exclusive representative," "labor organization," and "silver spanner program" to the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act to clarify labor relations and inter-departmental EMS work arrangements.

• Grants EMS personnel the right to have a union representative and legal counsel present during interviews and investigations conducted by EMS Medical Directors or the Department, with representatives required to comply with confidentiality and patient information protections.

• Establishes that EMS Medical Directors must submit suspension orders to the Department describing which Program Plan requirements were not met and the suspension duration, with the Department incorporating this information into further licensing actions.

• Allows fire department/fire protection district employees to work under a "silver spanner program" in another EMS System for up to 2 weeks if approved by the EMS Medical Director, directly supervised by a same-or-higher licensed individual, and able to test into the system within 2 weeks.

• Adds requirements for the State EMS Disciplinary Review Board to inform suspended individuals of their right to have a labor organization representative present during board proceedings, with the representative subject to confidentiality requirements.