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H.B. 230

             1     

EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATORS TRAINING

             2     
REQUIREMENTS

             3     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Gage Froerer

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends provisions relating to emergency vehicle operator training
             11      requirements.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides that every operator of an emergency medical service vehicle shall have
             15      certification of the successful completion of an emergency vehicle operator's course
             16      approved by the Department of Public Safety to be eligible for an emergency
             17      medical service vehicle permit;
             18          .    provides that certain privileges granted to the operator of an authorized emergency
             19      vehicle involved in a vehicle pursuit apply only when the operator of the vehicle has
             20      certification of the successful completion of an emergency vehicle operator's course
             21      approved by the Department of Public Safety;
             22          .    grants the Department of Public Safety rulemaking authority to establish minimum
             23      standards for and approve emergency vehicle operator courses; and
             24          .    makes technical corrections.
             25      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             26          None
             27      Other Special Clauses:


             28          None
             29      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             30      AMENDS:
             31          26-8a-304, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 141
             32          41-6a-212, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             33     
             34      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             35          Section 1. Section 26-8a-304 is amended to read:
             36           26-8a-304. Permits for emergency medical service vehicles.
             37          (1) (a) To ensure that emergency medical service vehicles are adequately staffed, safe,
             38      maintained, [and] properly equipped, and safely operated, the committee shall establish permit
             39      requirements at levels it considers appropriate in the following categories:
             40          [(a)] (i) ambulance; and
             41          [(b)] (ii) emergency response vehicle.
             42          (b) The permit requirements under this Subsection (1) shall include a requirement that
             43      every operator of an ambulance or emergency response vehicle have certification of the
             44      successful completion of an emergency vehicle operator's course approved by the Department
             45      of Public Safety.
             46          (2) The department shall, based on the requirements established in Subsection (1),
             47      issue permits to emergency medical service vehicles.
             48          Section 2. Section 41-6a-212 is amended to read:
             49           41-6a-212. Emergency vehicles -- Policy regarding vehicle pursuits --
             50      Applicability of traffic law to highway work vehicles -- Exemptions.
             51          (1) Subject to Subsections (2) through (5), the operator of an authorized emergency
             52      vehicle may exercise the privileges granted under this section when:
             53          (a) responding to an emergency call;
             54          (b) in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law; or
             55          (c) responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm.
             56          (2) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
             57          (a) park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter;
             58          (b) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may


             59      be necessary for safe operation;
             60          (c) exceed the maximum speed limits, unless prohibited by a local highway authority
             61      under Section 41-6a-208 ; or
             62          (d) disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified
             63      directions.
             64          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), privileges granted under this section to
             65      the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle, who is not involved in a vehicle pursuit,
             66      apply only when:
             67          (i) the operator of the vehicle sounds an audible signal under Section 41-6a-1625 ; or
             68          (ii) uses a visual signal with emergency lights in accordance with rules made under
             69      Section 41-6a-1601 , which is visible from in front of the vehicle.
             70          (b) An operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may exceed the maximum speed
             71      limit when engaged in normal patrolling activities with the purpose of identifying and
             72      apprehending violators.
             73          (4) Privileges granted under this section to the operator of an authorized emergency
             74      vehicle involved in any vehicle pursuit apply only when:
             75          (a) the operator of the vehicle:
             76          (i) sounds an audible signal under Section 41-6a-1625 ; and
             77          (ii) uses a visual signal with emergency lights in accordance with rules made under
             78      Section 41-6a-1601 , which is visible from in front of the vehicle;
             79          (b) the public agency employing the operator of the vehicle has, in effect, a written
             80      policy which describes the manner and circumstances in which any vehicle pursuit should be
             81      conducted and terminated;
             82          (c) the operator of the vehicle has:
             83          (i) been trained in accordance with the written policy described in Subsection (4)(b);
             84      and
             85          (ii) certification of the successful completion of an emergency vehicle operator's course
             86      approved by the Department of Public Safety that complies with the requirements of
             87      Subsection (5)(b); and
             88          (d) the pursuit policy of the public agency is in conformance with standards established
             89      under Subsection (5).


             90          (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             91      Department of Public Safety shall make rules:
             92          (a) providing minimum standards for all emergency pursuit policies that are adopted by
             93      public agencies authorized to operate emergency pursuit vehicles[.]; and
             94          (b) establishing minimum standards for and approving emergency vehicle operator
             95      courses.
             96          (6) The privileges granted under this section do not relieve the operator of an
             97      authorized emergency vehicle of the duty to act as a reasonably prudent emergency vehicle
             98      operator in like circumstances.
             99          (7) Except for Sections 41-6a-210 , 41-6a-502 , and 41-6a-528 , this chapter does not
             100      apply to persons, motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work on the
             101      surface of a highway.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-5-13 5:56 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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