1.
This Act may be cited as the
Emergency Medical Services Support
Act
.
2.
Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical
Services
(a)
The Secretary of
Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under
Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, and in consultation with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a Federal Interagency
Committee on Emergency Medical Services (referred to in this Act as the
Interagency Committee on EMS
) to improve coordination and
enhance support of emergency medical services.
(b)
The Interagency Committee on
EMS shall consist of the following officials, or their designees:
(1)
The Administrator of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(2)
The Director of the Office
for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland Security.
(3)
The Administrator of the
Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and
Human Services.
(4)
The Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
(5)
The Administrator of the
United States Fire Administration of the Department of Homeland
Security.
(6)
The Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and
Human Services.
(7)
The Undersecretary of Defense
for Personnel and Readiness.
(8)
The Assistant Secretary for
Public Health Emergency Preparedness of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
(9)
The Director of the Indian
Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(10)
The Bureau Chief of the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the Federal Communications
Commission.
(11)
A representative of any other
Federal agency identified by the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary
of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness
and Response and in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as having a significant role in relation to the purposes of the
Interagency Committee on EMS.
(c)
The members of the
Interagency Committee on EMS shall annually select an individual from among the
members of the Committee to serve as chairperson of the Committee.
(d)
The Interagency Committee on
EMS shall carry out the following activities:
(1)
Ensuring coordination among
the Federal agencies represented on the Interagency Committee on EMS with
State, local, tribal, or regional emergency medical services and 9–1–1
systems.
(2)
Identifying State, local,
tribal, or regional emergency medical services and 9–1–1 needs.
(3)
Ensuring that emergency
medical services are appropriately integrated with homeland security and other
emergency response programs.
(4)
Recommending new or expanded
programs, including grant programs, for—
(A)
improving State, local,
tribal, or regional emergency medical services; and
(B)
implementing improved
interoperable voice and data emergency medical services and communications
technologies, including wireless 9–1–1.
(5)
Identifying ways to
streamline the process through which Federal agencies support State, local,
tribal, or regional emergency medical services.
(6)
Assisting State, local,
tribal, or regional emergency medical services in setting priorities based on
identified needs.
(7)
Advising, consulting, and
making recommendations on matters relating to the implementation of the
coordinated State emergency medical services programs.
(e)
The Interagency Committee on
EMS shall meet as frequently as is determined necessary by the chairperson of
the Committee, but no less frequently than quarterly.
(f)
The Administrator of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in cooperation with the
Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland
Security, shall provide administrative support to the Interagency Committee on
EMS, including scheduling meetings, setting agendas, keeping minutes and
records, and producing reports.
(g)
The Interagency Committee on
EMS shall prepare and submit an annual report to Congress on the Committee’s
activities, actions, and recommendations, and shall include in such report a
description of respective Federal agency responsibility, support, and
coordination of emergency medical services systems.
3.
Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Council
(a)
There is established a
Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
(in this Act referred to as the Advisory Council
) that shall
consist of not more than 13 individuals with an interest or expertise in
emergency medical services selected by the Interagency Committee on EMS.
(b)
In selecting members of the
Advisory Council, the Interagency Committee on EMS shall ensure that the
Advisory Council represents—
(1)
both urban and rural areas;
and
(2)
all sectors of the emergency
medical services community.
(c)
Members of the Advisory
Council shall annually select an individual from among the members of the
Council to serve as chairperson of the Advisory Council.
(d)
The Advisory Council shall
make recommendations to the Interagency Committee on EMS on topics including
the following:
(1)
Improved coordination and
support of emergency medical services systems among Federal programs.
(2)
Development of a national
emergency medical services plan.
(3)
Standards, guidelines,
benchmarks, and data collection on emergency medical services.
(4)
Guidelines for conducting
needs assessments for improving community-based emergency medical services
systems at State and local levels.
(5)
Creation of new, or the
expansion of existing, grants or other programs for improving community-based
emergency medical services.
(6)
Consolidation or realignment
of Federal agency or program responsibility for emergency medical
services.
(7)
Strengthening emergency
medical services systems through enhanced workforce development, education,
training, exercises, equipment, medical oversight, and other areas.
(8)
Issues or topics to be
addressed in the annual report of the Interagency Committee on EMS.
(e)
Before the Interagency
Committee on EMS submits the annual report required under section 2(g) to
Congress, the Advisory Council shall review the report and include independent
information or recommendations for inclusion in the report, as deemed
appropriate by the Advisory Council.
(f)
The Advisory Council—
(1)
shall meet at the same time
and place as the Interagency Committee on EMS, when such Committee meets;
and
(2)
may conduct independent
meetings to receive public comment and collect data and information.
(g)
Compensation and reimbursement
(1)
The members of the Advisory
Council shall receive no pay by reason of their service as a member of the
Advisory Council.
(2)
The members of the Advisory
Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 1
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for the Advisory
Council.
(h)
The Administrator of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in cooperation with the
Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness of the Department of Homeland
Security, shall provide administration support to the Advisory Council.