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

[Bill Documents]