CHAPTER 774. LOCAL PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
TITLE 9. SAFETY
SUBTITLE B. EMERGENCIES
CHAPTER 774. LOCAL PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Sec. 774.001. MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AMONG MUNICIPALITIES AND
COUNTIES IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. (a) On
request, a county shall provide emergency medical services for a
municipality within that county or for a county bordering that
county if:
(1) an agreement has been executed between the county and the
requesting municipality or county;
(2) an emergency exists in the requesting municipality or
county;
(3) the requesting municipality or county is temporarily unable
to provide its own emergency medical services;
(4) the request is for services that the county receiving the
request provides or contracts to provide for persons within its
jurisdiction; and
(5) the county providing the services will be able to provide
reasonable protection to persons within its jurisdiction while
providing services for the requesting municipality or county.
(b) On request, a municipality shall provide emergency medical
services for the county in which that municipality is located or
for a municipality located within 30 miles of that municipality
if:
(1) an agreement has been executed between the municipality and
the requesting municipality or county;
(2) an emergency exists in the requesting municipality or
county;
(3) the requesting municipality or county is temporarily unable
to provide its own emergency medical services;
(4) the request is for services that the municipality receiving
the request provides or contracts to provide for persons within
its jurisdiction; and
(5) the municipality providing the services will be able to
provide reasonable protection to persons within its jurisdiction
while providing services for the requesting municipality or
county.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Sec. 774.002. EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PAY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS. (a) A municipality or other political subdivision
that employs emergency medical technicians may pay educational
incentive pay to employees holding certificates from the Texas
Department of Health as emergency medical technicians.
(b) The educational incentive pay is in addition to any other
form of compensation provided by law for emergency medical
technicians.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Sec. 774.003. EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDED BY COUNTIES.
(a) The commissioners court of a county may provide for
emergency ambulance service in the county, including the
provision of necessary equipment, personnel, and maintenance for
the service.
(b) In providing for the services authorized by Subsection (a),
a commissioners court may enter into exclusive agreements with
any municipality, hospital district, sheriff's office, fire
department, private ambulance service, or other agency or entity
that the commissioners court finds to be suitably organized to
provide efficient emergency ambulance service in the county. The
governing body of a municipality or hospital district in which
emergency ambulance service is to be rendered must approve an
agreement made with the commissioners court to provide that
service in the municipality or hospital district.
(c) A commissioners court operating under this section may
expend county funds to defray the expense of establishing,
operating, and maintaining the emergency ambulance service in the
county. The funds may be expended whether the service is provided
directly by the county or by agreement with some other
governmental agency or private entity.
(d) A commissioners court providing emergency ambulance service
under this section shall establish reasonable fees for the
service. The commissioners court or any other agency or entity
performing the service may charge and collect the fees.
(e) A commissioners court may make special provisions for
rendering emergency ambulance service to indigent persons.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 915, Sec. 20, eff. Aug. 28,
1995.
Sec. 774.004. MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER RESPONSE ACCOMPANYING
MUNICIPAL AMBULANCE RESPONSE OUTSIDE MUNICIPALITY. (a) This
section applies to an agreement between two municipalities under
Section 774.001(b) or between a county and a municipality under
Section 774.001(b) or 774.003.
(b) The agreement may authorize police officers employed by the
responding municipality to secure the scene of an emergency,
accident, fire, or disaster to which the municipality's emergency
ambulance service responds under the agreement.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
479, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.