Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding approval of an update to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Plan to transfer the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA) to the Fire Department, as follows: (EST. TIME: 30 MIN.)
a) Direct LEMSA staff to update the Santa Barbara County’s EMS Plan to include moving the LEMSA from County Health to the Fire Department and seek approval from the California EMS Authority;
b) If approved by the California EMS Authority, direct staff to take all steps necessary to transfer the LEMSA from County Health to the Fire Department;
c) Direct that the LEMSA retains its statutory and clinical responsibilities, Medical Director authority, provider-neutral regulatory processes, confidentiality protections, appeal procedures and written governance protocols;
d) Approve and authorize the Director of County Health to execute an Agreement with independent contractor to evaluate the County's ambulance service needs and assist in the development of a comprehensive Request for Proposals (RFP) for future ambulance services for an amount not to exceed $300,000.00 with a term of January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028;
e) Authorize the County Executive Officer or designee to submit comments to the California EMS Authority opposing the proposed changes to Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 9, that would prohibit the LEMSA from serving as an EMS provider unless such designation occurred prior to January 1, 2026 and request prospective application, recognition of Board-approved or substantially initiated county actions, and a reasonable compliance period;
f) Direct County Executive Office staff to monitor Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, Division 9, rulemaking, incorporate final regulatory requirements into the transition, and return to the Board if the final regulations require a material change to the approved organizational structure or additional Board authority; and
g) Determine that the recommended actions are organizational and administrative activities that are not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5).
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY