Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Bill for EMT Background Checks
California created a statewide standard of background checking EMTs as well as established a paramedic registry. Governor Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law on Thursday.
The bill, AB 2917, had wide support; it passed the state Senate 35-1.
Through the new law, California will be able to develop standards for certification of EMTs. It will also be able to keep track of disciplinary orders and conditions of probations. Presently, in California, there is no repository of this information allowing EMTs who have a history of misconduct to travel from county to county without being caught or prevented from obtaining jobs.
State Assembly Majority Leader, Alberto Torrico, created the bill. He noted that while EMTs are "unsung heroes" in emergency situations, "it was important to push these reforms to prevent others from falling through the cracks."
The bill had the support of California's Health & Human Services, the State Firefighters Association, and the Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association of California.
Kudos to California for taking this step!
The bill, AB 2917, had wide support; it passed the state Senate 35-1.
Through the new law, California will be able to develop standards for certification of EMTs. It will also be able to keep track of disciplinary orders and conditions of probations. Presently, in California, there is no repository of this information allowing EMTs who have a history of misconduct to travel from county to county without being caught or prevented from obtaining jobs.
State Assembly Majority Leader, Alberto Torrico, created the bill. He noted that while EMTs are "unsung heroes" in emergency situations, "it was important to push these reforms to prevent others from falling through the cracks."
The bill had the support of California's Health & Human Services, the State Firefighters Association, and the Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association of California.
Kudos to California for taking this step!
Labels: background checks, california senate, emt background checks
posted by JenWiehl at 12:34 PM
8 Comments:
Way to go California!! I will just say...Moving on up!!
Good going - let's hope other states follow suit.
Excellent news!
Wow, finally some good news!!!
This doesn't make sense to me. Why does California need to make it harder and harder for employers.
Woohoo!
of course, this is the same state that is limiting employers abilities to run credit checks...
A repository for information, like who has a good history or who has disciplinary action, should be a good thing. And since EMTs have access to lots of expensive equipment and DRUGS, I'm not sure how this is an impingement on anyone.
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