Chapter 7.70 — AMBULANCE SERVICES

The purpose of this chapter is to assure that the people of Mono County will receive adequate and safe emergency and nonemergency medical transportation services.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

A.

As used in this chapter:

"Department" means the Mono County health department.

"Director" means the director of the Mono County health department or his or her duly authorized representative.

"Ambulance" means any vehicle specially constructed, modified, equipped and/or used for the purpose of transporting sick, injured, convalescent, infirm, or otherwise incapacitated persons.

"Ambulance service" means the private or public organization or individual providing an ambulance for use in emergency service.

"Emergency call" means a request for an ambulance to transport or assist persons in apparent sudden need of medical attention; or, in a medical emergency, as determined by a physician, to transport blood, any therapeutic device, accessory to such device, or tissue or organ for transplant.

"Emergency service" means the functions performed in response to an emergency call. Emergency service also includes transportation of a patient, regardless of a presumption of death of the patient, or transportation of a body for the purpose of making an anatomical gift, as provided in Section 12811, Vehicle Code, and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, Health and Safety Code.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

The director of the Mono County health department shall have the authority and responsibility to develop and administer an emergency medical services program and to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations, pursuant to the California Administrative Procedures Act as he or she may deem necessary for the efficient administration of such program.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

Minimum standards for the operation of an ambulance within this county, either by private or public entity, shall be those minimum standards for ambulance equipment and personnel as set forth in Title 13, Sections 1100 through 1109 inclusive, of the California Administrative Code, as from time to time hereafter amended.

In addition to the minimum requirements contained in the referenced sections of the California Administrative Code, the operator of any ambulance service within this county shall coordinate dispatch through the county-wide emergency telephone number (911) and comply with such other regulations as may be promulgated by the director.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

A.

Application. No person shall operate or supply ambulance services in Mono County thirty days after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter unless he/she first applies for and receives an ambulance service permit from the director of the Mono County health department.

B.

Investigation. Upon receipt of an application for an ambulance service operation permit as required by this chapter, the applicant shall submit documentary evidence to the satisfaction of the director that the personnel and equipment to be utilized in the provision of ambulance service comply with all state standards for such service. The director shall conduct such investigation as he may deem appropriate to verify the information submitted.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

A.

Conditions of Approval. Permits shall be issued subject to evidence of compliance with the standards set out in Section 7.70.040, and demonstration of such compliance as set forth in Section 7.70.050B. Permits may also include such other conditions as may be reasonably required by the director, through use of his or her rulemaking power. Permits are valid for a term of one year and applications for renewal of a permit should be made at least forty-five days prior to the expiration of the existing permit.

B.

Denial. If upon examination of the documentary evidence supplied by the applicant and investigation of the same, the director or his duly designated representative determines that the applicant is not in compliance with the minimum standards set forth in Section 7.70.040, the director shall advise the applicant of the specific areas of noncompliance and measures necessary to correct the same. If the applicant does not submit evidence satisfactory to the director or his duly authorized representative of compliance within fifteen days of the date of the written statement of findings of noncompliance, the permit application shall be deemed denied.

No more than four applications for an ambulance service permit may be submitted within a three-hundred- sixty-five day period.

C.

Revocation. Any permit may be revoked or suspended on an urgency basis if the director, or his duly authorized representative, determines that the permit holder is operating the ambulance service not in accordance with the standards set out in Section 7.70.040.

Such determination shall be evidenced by a written notice either personally served or mailed to the permit holder, and shall specify the causes for suspension or revocation. Upon receipt of such notice, the permit holder shall immediately suspend operations. Within fifteen days of any such suspension or revocation, the permit holder shall be entitled to a hearing before the director or his or her duly authorized representative to contest the director's determination of noncompliance or to provide evidence of correction.

At the conclusion of such hearing, the director or the duly authorized representative shall orally announce the intended decision and confirm this decision in writing. This decision shall be final for administrative purposes.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

No permit holder operating under an ambulance service permit shall modify staffing procedure or equipment utilized under the permit without the prior written consent of the director.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

A.

The director, or his or her duly authorized representative, may at any and all reasonable times, when the permit holder is conducting business, enter the business premises of or inspect the equipment of such permit holder to monitor compliance with the standards set forth in Section 7.70.040.

B.

Every person who violates or fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter in the operation of an ambulance service is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

This chapter shall not apply to private persons transporting persons for the purpose of medical treatment so long as the transportation is not performed for compensation paid by the transported party or any third party.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)

The fee charged under this chapter for a permit shall be twenty-five dollars per ambulance unit.

(Ord. 83-513 § 1 (part), 1983.)