Marin County Municipal Code Ch. 7.60 Ambulance Transportation Services

The purpose of the ordinance codified in this chapter is to ensure that when persons in Marin County request ambulance transportation they receive a consistent level of service that meets the minimum acceptable standards as established by this community.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

This chapter provides for the establishment of standards for ambulance transport, personnel training and certification, equipment and supply requirements, response time requirements, radio and tracking mechanisms, patient treatment and transportation protocols.

In addition, it empowers the emergency medical services agency to recommend issuance or denial of permits, monitor performance, enforce standards if necessary and to act in an impartial manner as an arbitrator in matters of consumer complaints.

(Ord. 3439 § 5, 2006: Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

The provisions of this chapter, and all regulations promulgated hereunder by the board of supervisors, are applicable to all persons, entities, owners, permittees, personnel, and dispatchers providing medical transportation services in Marin County. They shall not apply to the following:

A. Ambulance services transporting a patient from a sending facility or destination outside of Marin County to a receiving facility or destination within Marin County;

B. Service providers contracted with the County of Marin as exclusive zone permittees on the date of the implementation of this chapter and remaining in that status;

C. Transport services provided by a federal agency originating from a federal reservation for purposes of responding to or transporting patients under federal responsibility;

D. Transport services operated at the request of local authorities during any state of war emergency, state of emergency, or declared local emergency as defined in the Government Code.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

Regulations implementing the provisions of this chapter shall be adopted and may be modified by resolution of the board of supervisors following thirty days' public notice.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

No person, entity, firm or corporation shall operate, or cause to be operated, an ambulance transport service using the streets or roadways of Marin County without having been issued a certificate of operation by the Marin County emergency medical services agency pursuant to the order of the board of supervisors and in accordance with the regulations promulgated hereunder.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

No person, entity, firm, or corporation shall operate or cause to be operated, any ambulance transport vehicle upon the streets or roadways of Marin County unless a valid vehicle permit has been issued by the Marin County emergency medical services agency pursuant to verification of a valid certificate of operation.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

It shall be the duty of the Marin County emergency medical services agency to enforce the provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder by the board of supervisors.

Implementing regulations shall include a mechanism for immediate suspension of operation in the event of a threat to the health and safety of the public; provision for suspension or revocation of certificate of operation and/or vehicle permit(s) and the process for same; a mechanism to identify violation of the chapter and to levy fines; and a mechanism by which to appeal actions taken.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

The requirements of this chapter and of the regulations adopted hereunder are not intended to supersede or replace any other provisions of law.

Ambulance transport services shall be subject to any and all applicable provisions of state and federal law, including, but not limited to, the California Code of Regulations, the California Vehicle Code, the California Health and Safety Code and the Marin County Emergency Medical Services Ambulance Ordinance and Policies and Procedures.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)

If any provision of this chapter, or provision of the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 7.60.040, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter and its regulations or the application thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby. To this end, the provisions of this chapter and its regulations are declared to be severable.

(Ord. 3226 § 1 (part), 1996)

(Ord. No. 3741, § I, 2020)