Sacramento County Municipal Code Art. 2 Requirements—Services

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

(SCC 578 § 8, 1983)

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, 1983)

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, 1983)

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 express 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 Section 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 Section 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 Section 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 Section 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 fifteen 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 Section 4.18.135, shall not become effective until a final decision thereon by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to said appeal.

(SCC 578 § 8, 1983)

A decision by the Director under Section 4.18.130 may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors 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 Board of Supervisors not later than fifteen 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 Board of Supervisors 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 Board of Supervisors shall be final.

(SCC 578 § 8, 1983)

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

(SCC 578 § 8, 1983)

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 Board of Supervisors 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 one million dollars 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 five hundred thousand dollars for one or more persons injured or property damaged in each occurrence. Professional liability insurance shall be in an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars per occurrence. The County, 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 non-renewal 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 fifteen days in advance of the effective date thereof.

(SCC 578 § 8, 1983; SCC 663 § 1, 1986)