A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-61-100, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, SO AS TO ALLOW FIREFIGHTERS TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS IN VEHICLES OTHER THAN AMBULANCES WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVE BEFORE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THERE IS A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM A CONDITION REQUIRING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.  Section 44-61-100 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    Section 44-61-100. The following are exempted from the provisions of this article:

    (A) ambulances owned and operated by the Federal Government;

    (B) a vehicle or vehicles, including associated personnel, rendering assistance to community ambulances in the case of a catastrophe when licensed ambulances in the locality are insufficient to render the required services;

    (C) the use of a privately or publicly owned vehicle, not ordinarily utilized in the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, or otherwise incapacitated and operating pursuant to Section 15-1-310 (Good Samaritan Act) in the prevention of loss of life and alleviation of suffering;

    (D) the use of out-of-state ambulance services and personnel to assist with treatment and transport of patients during a disaster or catastrophe when licensed services in the locality are insufficient to render the required services.;

    (E) a fire fighter, regardless of whether the fire fighter is licensed as an emergency medical service provider, may transport a patient suffering from a condition requiring an emergency response to a health care facility in a vehicle other than an ambulance if:

       (1) the appropriate emergency medical service provider is notified of the patient's condition requiring an emergency response; and

       (2) licensed ambulances in the locality are insufficient or unavailable to provide emergency medical services imminently at the patient's location.

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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