Rancho Cordova Municipal Code Art. II Requirements – Services

A. Each holder of a special business license under this chapter shall employ only drivers and attendants who have met all license training and other requirements in applicable state laws and regulations, and who have completed such additional training as may be prescribed by the director in regulations adopted by him.

B. The attendant need not comply with the training requirements established under this chapter if he is a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state or a California registered nurse.

C. Where an ambulance contains two or more attendants (in addition to the driver), the director, by regulation, may exempt the additional attendants from some or all training requirements.

D. All drivers and attendants shall be clean and wear neat, clean clothing with some easily visible form of company identification at all times while providing ambulance services.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

Each ambulance providing emergency ambulance service within the city shall be staffed by at least two persons, one driver and one attendant.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

The director, in the name and in behalf of the city, shall be authorized to enter into annual contracts with each ambulance service to whom a special business license authorizing emergency ambulance services has been issued. Such contracts shall include such terms as are mutually acceptable to the parties relating to the following matters:

A. The delivery of ambulance services to the city through service to city prisons and other institutions, at specified rates which do not exceed those which prevail within the city for comparable service;

B. Terms, conditions and requirements related to the delivery of emergency ambulance services; and

C. The payment of city subsidies for emergency ambulance services, of types and in amounts which are approved in advance by the city council. Such subsidies may relate to the uncompensated costs of providing emergency ambulance services to indigents, the uncompensated costs of responding to emergency ambulance service calls under circumstances in which a patient is not transported, or be based upon other factors relevant to the delivery of emergency ambulance services.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

Pursuant to the provisions of RCMC § 4.02.085, the director may adopt and enforce such regulations as he determines are necessary for the protection of the public health and safety relating to delivery of emergency ambulance services, including ambulance services, pursuant to the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Medical Care Personnel Act (Section 1797 et seq. of the California Health and Safety Code) and to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. Such regulations may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

A. The maintenance of specified records by licensed ambulance services relating to the receipt and response to service calls, and other matters, and the right of authorized city representatives to inspect such records;

B. The maintenance of minimum specified equipment and appliances within and on ambulances;

C. Terms, conditions and requirements relating to the delivery of emergency ambulance services;

D. Training requirements for ambulance drivers and attendants;

E. Certification of advanced life support and limited advanced life support providers and personnel, pursuant to Section 1797.178 of the California Health and Safety Code;

F. Designation of advanced life support transport providers and personnel;

G. Training programs for emergency medical services personnel; and

H. Medical control.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; SCC 0924 § 1, 1993; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

The county communications center shall, in response to calls for emergency ambulance services, call only licensed ambulance services authorized to serve in the emergency response zone in which the emergency exists or ambulance services operated by public agencies, unless the center determines that there are no or inadequate services available from such a designated licensee.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

Upon receiving a call for an emergency ambulance service within an emergency response zone which the licensee is authorized to serve, the licensee shall immediately dispatch an ambulance to the address or place given. The ambulance dispatched shall immediately start a direct run to that address or place and shall complete that run unless directed otherwise by the county communications center. If an ambulance is directed to make a direct run and is thereafter diverted for any reason, the licensee shall immediately notify the county communications center. Upon receiving a call for an ambulance and having no ambulance available to immediately make a direct run to the address or place given, the licensee shall immediately notify the county communications center.

When responding for an emergency ambulance service, the ambulance driver shall comply with all radio communications regulations, as shall be determined by the director pursuant to administrative regulations after consultation with licensed ambulance services.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

Except with respect to rates which the director determines are set as a result of a freely competitive service delivery system in which multiple ambulance services provide emergency services within the same geographical area under variable rates established without expressed or implied agreement among the providers, all emergency ambulance service rates, including rates for services and supplies incidental thereto, shall be subject to the approval of the director. Such approval shall be given on an annual basis, following a public hearing conducted by the director, notice of which is given in the manner prescribed by RCMC § 4.02.090. The rates reviewed shall be those proposed by licensed ambulance services, and the proposal shall be submitted, together with such accompanying material, data and information as may be required, pursuant to administrative regulations enacted under RCMC § 4.18.115. The decision of the director shall approve, approve in part, or disapprove proposed rates, and said decision shall be based upon the reasonable costs of providing the service in relation to a reasonable rate of return on investment. A licensed ambulance service desiring to increase approved rates in advance of the annual determination by the director shall make application to do so pursuant to administrative regulations enacted under RCMC § 4.18.115, and the director shall act thereon following a special public hearing conducted to receive evidence thereon, notice of which is given in the manner prescribed by RCMC § 4.02.090. The director's decision shall be based upon the same standard as with respect to his or her annual determination.

Each decision by the director made pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be accompanied by written findings of fact and conclusions. The date on which the decision, findings and conclusions will be issued shall be announced prior to the conclusion of the public hearing. A copy of the decision, including the findings and conclusions, shall be served on each licensee affected thereby upon issuance.

Levels of rates and charges proposed by licensees and approvals thereof and other decisions thereon by the director shall not become effective until 15 days following the date announced prior to the conclusion of the public hearing for issuance of the decision, and in the event an appeal is filed pursuant to RCMC § 4.18.135, shall not become effective until a final decision thereon by the city council pursuant to said appeal.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

A decision by the director under RCMC § 4.18.130 may be appealed to the city council by an affected licensee or any member of the public who may be served by the licensee by filing a written notice of appeal with the clerk of the city council not later than 15 days following the date announced prior to the conclusion of the public hearing by the director for issuance of the decision. Any such appeal shall include a written statement of the reasons therefor and basis upon which the director's decision is challenged. The city council shall conduct a hearing on the appeal, and in so doing, may review the decision, findings and conclusions of the director solely; said decision, findings and conclusions in accompaniment with the record of the hearing officer's hearing solely; review such matters and admit supplementary evidence relating to specified issues; or conduct a de novo hearing upon the matter. The determination by the city council shall be final.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

It shall be unlawful for any licensed ambulance service to charge or collect any rate which is regulated pursuant to the provisions of RCMC § 4.18.130 and § 4.18.135 which has not been approved pursuant to said sections.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)

It is unlawful for any owner to operate an ambulance or cause or permit the ambulance to be driven or operated, unless there is on file with the clerk of the city council and in full force and effect at all times such ambulance is being operated a policy of insurance issued by a company authorized to do business in the state of California, insuring the owner against loss by reason of injury or damage that may result to persons or property from negligent operation or defective construction of such ambulance, or from violations of this chapter or of any other law of the state of California or the United States. Such policy shall also provide general public liability, and property damage and professional liability insurance. The property damage and vehicle insurance shall be in the amount of not less than a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for one or more persons injured and property damaged in each occurrence. The public liability insurance shall be in the amount of not less than a combined single limit of $500,000 for one or more persons injured or property damaged in each occurrence. Professional liability insurance shall be in an amount not less than $500,000 per occurrence. The city, and in their capacities as such, its officers, employees and agents, shall be named as additional insureds in said insurance. The policy shall contain a clause prohibiting cancellation or nonrenewal of such insurance, whether for failure to pay a premium or otherwise, without service by the insurer upon the director of health of written notice at least 15 days in advance of the effective date thereof.

(SCC 578 § 8 (part), 1983; SCC 663 § 1, 1986; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4)