RCRC, along with a coalition of county and medical service partners, advocated strongly against Senate Bill 443, authored by Senator Robert Hertzberg. On June 28th, the bill was pulled by the author in the Assembly Health Committee, effectively “killing” the measure for this Session.
SB 443 purported to clarify SB 438, another Senator Hertzberg measure from 2019, that dealt with the operation of public safety answering points (PSAPs), including 9-1-1 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatch centers. On the contrary, the measure did not address local EMS dispatch issues but instead undermined county and LEMSA control of their EMS systems. SB 443 sought to undermine nearly 40 years of litigation that has affirmed county responsibility for their local emergency medical services systems
Joining RCRC in opposition was the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), Urban Counties of California (UCC), County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC), Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association of California (EMSAAC), and the Emergency Medical Service Medical Directors Association of California (EMDAC), as well as 20 individual counties. The high level of county opposition and engagement was key to the success of getting the bill pulled. Thank you to all the counties that engaged on this issue.
For questions, please contact Policy Advocate Sarah Dukett.