Bill Text: CA AB2700 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Emergency medical services: alternate destinations.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2700 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2700-Amended.html

---

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 16, 2024

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 11, 2024

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 01, 2024

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 11, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2700

---

Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Haney)

February 14, 2024

---

An act to add Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 1870) to Division 2.5 of amend Section 1813 of, and to add Sections 1837 and 1844 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to emergency medical services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2700, as amended, Gabriel. Emergency medical services: alternate destinations.

Existing law authorizes a county to develop an emergency medical services (EMS) program, and requires a county developing that program to designate a local EMS agency. Existing law authorizes a local EMS agency to develop a community paramedicine or triage to alternate destination program that, among other things, selects providers to triage individuals to mental health facilities and sobering centers as alternates to emergency departments. Existing law requires the Emergency Medical Services Authority to develop and, after approval by the Commission on Emergency Medical Services, adopt regulations and establish minimum standards for the development of those programs.

This bill would require the state to survey and analyze the facilities in each county that can serve as an alternate destination facility. The bill would require a local emergency medical services agency to develop an alternate destination facility plan with protocols for transporting an individual to an alternate destination facility instead of an emergency department. annually report to the Emergency Medical Services Authority regarding the development of triage to alternate destination programs in its jurisdiction, as specified.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

---

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 1813 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1813.

 (a) “Authorized sobering center” means a noncorrectional facility that is staffed at all times with at least one registered nurse, that provides a safe, supportive environment for intoxicated individuals to become sober, that is identified as an alternate destination in a plan developed pursuant to Section 1843, and that meets any of the following requirements:

(1) The facility is operated by a federally qualified health center, including a clinic described in subdivision (b) of Section 1206.

(2) The facility is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services, Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division to provide outpatient, nonresidential detoxification services.

(3) The facility has been accredited as a sobering center under the standards developed by the National Sobering Collaborative. Facilities granted approval for operation by OSHPD the former Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development before November 28, 2017, under the Health Workforce Pilot Project No. 173, may continue operation until one year after the National Sobering Collaborative accreditation becomes available.

(b) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) do not impose any new or additional licensure or oversight responsibilities on the State Department of Health Care Services or the State Department of Public Health with regard to authorized sobering centers.

(c) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) do not make an authorized sobering center eligible for reimbursement under the Medicaid program.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1837 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1837.

 The state shall survey and analyze the facilities in each county that can serve as an alternate destination facility. The Emergency Medical Services Authority shall publish a report on its internet website that provides each local emergency services agency with the current number, capacity, and type of alternate destination facilities, as well as the needed number, capacity, and type of alternate destination facilities necessary to meet current demand for services.

SEC. 3.

 Section 1844 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1844.

 As part of its annual submission pursuant to Section 1797.254, a local EMS agency shall report to the authority regarding the development of triage to alternate destination programs in its jurisdiction. The report shall include the following:

(a) An overview of the triage to alternate destination programs occurring in that jurisdiction, including all of the following:

(1) An assessment of the population within the local EMS agency that has access to a triage to alternate destination program.

(2) Information regarding behavioral health crisis facility types in the jurisdiction not otherwise authorized under Section 1812 or 1813 that the local EMS agency would like to request the authority evaluate for future authorization as an alternate destination.

(3) Information regarding barriers to implementing the triage to alternate destination program.

(b) If a triage to alternate destination program has not been adopted, provide detailed justification for not adopting a program, including all of the following:

(1) Information regarding availability of authorized mental health facilities or authorized sobering centers in the jurisdiction.

(2) Information regarding the willingness of potential triage to alternate destination providers in the jurisdiction.

(3) Information regarding behavioral health crisis facility types in the jurisdiction not otherwise authorized under Section 1812 or 1813 that the local EMS agency would like to request the authority evaluate for future authorization as an alternate destination.

(4) Efforts to identify funding to support alternate destination programs.

(5) Efforts to coordinate with and discuss these programs with the county department or departments relative to behavioral health within the jurisdiction.

(6) Estimated number of behavioral health 911 calls made in the jurisdiction that emergency medical services system responds to.

(7) Identify whether there are any mobile integrated health or other programs operating in the jurisdiction that utilize higher medical authorities to triage patients to authorized mental health facilities or authorized sobering centers.

(8) Identify any personnel limitations that exist for emergency medical services providers operating advanced life support services with the jurisdiction of the local EMS agency.

SECTION 1.Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 1870) is added to Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

15.Alternate Destination Facility Plans

1870.

For purposes of this chapter:

(a)“Alternate destination facility” means a treatment location that serves as an alternative to an emergency department, including a mental health facility or sobering center.

(b)“EMS” means emergency medical services.

(c)“Mental health facility” means a facility that is licensed or certified as a mental health treatment facility or a hospital, as defined in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1250, by the State Department of Public Health, and may include a licensed psychiatric hospital, a licensed psychiatric health facility, or a certified crisis stabilization unit. An authorized mental health facility may also be a psychiatric health facility licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services. The facility shall be staffed at all times with at least one registered nurse.

(d)“Sobering center” means a noncorrectional facility that is staffed at all times with at least one registered nurse, that provides a safe, supportive environment for intoxicated individuals to become sober, and that meets any of the following requirements:

(1)The facility is a federally qualified health center, including a clinic described in subdivision (b) of Section 1206.

(2)The facility is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services Substance Use Disorder Compliance Division to provide outpatient, nonresidential detoxification services.

(3)The facility meets the National Sobering Collaborative standards of care.

1871.

The state shall survey and analyze the facilities in each county that can serve as an alternate destination facility. The Emergency Medical Services Authority shall publish a report on its internet website that provides each local EMS agency with the current number, capacity, and type of alternate destination facilities, as well as the needed number, capacity, and type of alternate destination facilities necessary to meet current demand for services.

1872.

(a)A local EMS agency, in consultation with the county department or departments relevant to behavioral health within its jurisdiction, shall develop an alternate destination facility plan with protocols for transporting an individual to an alternate destination facility instead of an emergency department. The plan and protocols shall be subject to regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1815.

(b)The plan developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall do both of the following:

(1)Ensure that transportation to an emergency department is no longer the default protocol for an individual in need of mental or behavioral health care services.

(2)Utilize existing facilities identified in the report published pursuant to Section 1871.