UtahS.B. 2092025 General SessionSenate

Emergency Medical Services

Sponsored By: Derrin R. Owens (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Human ServicesLabor and EmploymentHealth Care ProfessionalsLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticeDepartment of Public SafetyDepartment of Health and Human ServicesOccupational and Professional LicensingEmergency Medical Services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 5 mixed.

Emergency providers gain broader funding access

Emergency medical services now fall within Utah’s definition of primary health care, including for the primary care grant program. This does not guarantee a grant to any provider. For Medicaid fee-for-service ambulance rates effective July 1, 2015, or later, reimbursement uses Public Safety’s annually adopted rate schedule. Payment remains limited to that schedule, and federal approval of the related assessment is required. The law states no new reimbursement amount.

Local ambulance access gets stronger safeguards

Utah cities and counties must ensure minimum 911 ambulance service through licensed ground ambulance providers. The law calls 911 ambulance service an essential service. Hospitals, health facilities, local governments, and residents in a non-911 provider’s service area can submit written complaints. The emergency medical services bureau must review their merits, and local governments receiving a supported finding must take corrective action. If corrective action is unsuitable or will not resolve the complaint, the local government must seek service proposals or ask the bureau to do so.

New grants support emergency service needs

The law creates an Emergency Medical Services Critical Needs Account in Utah’s General Fund; unused balances carry forward. It receives interest, legislative funding, specified contributions, and money left after specified annual emergency medical services grants. On January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, the bureau calculates grants for the next three months. Each quarterly allocation cannot exceed 25% of the account balance, and awards must follow bureau rules. The law provides no direct appropriation.

Rural ambulance grants allow pricier vehicles

Licensed emergency medical services providers serving third- through sixth-class counties can use more competitive grant money for vehicles. The vehicle-purchase limit rises from $100,000 to a firm ceiling of $200,000. This change does not itself increase a provider’s total grant award.

Emergency workers lose statutory waiver option

The bureau must adopt licensing rules for emergency medical personnel. The law removes the committee’s power to add personnel categories beyond those listed in statute. Listed categories still include paramedics, medical directors, instructors, behavioral emergency services technicians, and certified emergency medical dispatchers. Beginning May 7, 2025, the law repeals the statutory waiver provision for emergency medical services rules, education, and licensing requirements.

Blood draw permissions shift and expand

Beginning May 7, 2025, Public Safety replaces Health and Human Services as the agency handling specified blood-draw permits and designations. Its emergency medical services bureau sets permit qualifications, which applicants must meet. Nonparamedic emergency medical personnel can draw blood only as rules allow for their license type. Related licensing exemptions recognize Public Safety authorization, including for aircraft and law-enforcement testing. Beginning May 7, 2025, physician assistants can draw blood at a peace officer’s request to test alcohol or drugs for law enforcement.

Health agency service bidding requirement ends

Beginning May 7, 2025, the law repeals a requirement to request proposals for covered services supplied by non-state providers. The supplied text does not identify which services are affected or establish any household savings.

Emergency care investigations gain enforcement tools

Utah’s emergency medical services bureau must carry out and enforce the emergency medical services programs and rules. During formal investigations or matters before the peer review board, it can administer oaths, require witnesses, and demand relevant records. It can order people subject to discipline, or violating emergency medical services laws or rules, to stop. Willfully disobeying a valid bureau subpoena is a class B misdemeanor. An individual who willfully disobeys a valid cease-and-desist order also commits a class B misdemeanor.

Emergency care licenses face stronger oversight

The bureau can discipline emergency medical workers, providers—including non-911 providers—and training centers for listed grounds. Worker misconduct is no longer limited by a committee-rule definition; discipline can include license limits, suspension, or loss. The bureau must consult the peer review board on worker discipline; the board hears licensing cases under bureau-set procedures. Evidence of a clear, immediate, unjustifiable threat or potential threat allows immediate suspension, with a proceeding within 30 days. Beginning May 7, 2025, the Utah Administrative Procedures Act applies to emergency medical services violation notices and orders.

Emergency training centers get designation rules

Utah’s emergency medical services bureau designates centers that provide emergency medical practitioner training. Training can include preparation for initial licenses and continuing medical education. The bureau must set designation requirements for colleges, vocational and technical schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations seeking that status.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Derrin R. Owens
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

James A. Dunnigan
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 176 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/7/2025

Senate/ concurs with House amendment

Yes: 27 • No: 0

House vote • 3/7/2025

House/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 71 • No: 0

House vote • 2/28/2025

House Comm - Substitute Recommendation

Yes: 11 • No: 0

House vote • 2/28/2025

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2025

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/21/2025

Senate/ passed 2nd reading

Yes: 24 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 4 • No: 0