As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section, unless the context of their usage clearly indicates another meaning:
Advanced emergency technician (AEMT)
means a person certified by the department of state health services as minimally proficient to provide emergency pre-hospital care by initiating under medical supervision certain procedures, as regulated by the Texas Health and Safety Code and relevant regulations.
Ambulance
means a ground motor vehicle used, designed or redesigned, and equipped for the primary purpose of the transportation of sick or injured persons, whether functioning at a basic life support, advanced life support or mobile intensive care unit service level as provided by state law and this article. The term does not include an ambulance that is owned by the state or federal government or an agency or subdivision thereof and operated by its employees.
Ambulance personnel
means persons certified or licensed by the department of state health services at the level of emergency care attendant (ECA), emergency medical technician (EMT), advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), or licensed paramedic (LP) who respond to life-threatening and non-life-threatening emergencies and unscheduled non-emergencies in an ambulance.
Ambulance service
means a service other than a local or state agency that provides ambulance service to the public.
Ambulance service provider or provider
means an organization or business providing medical transfer services and holding a valid ambulance service provider permit.
Ambulance service provider permit or permit
means the written authorization issued by the EMS director, or a designated representative, of the city for a designated company to provide medical care or service to any patient for that level of care.
Designated representative
means any person authorized by the EMS Director. The designated representative shall have authority to conduct inspections of vehicles, equipment, and performance of personnel.
Emergency call
means a telephone call or other similar communication from a member of the public, as part of a 911 system or other emergency access communication system, made to obtain emergency medical services.
Emergency care attendant (ECA)
means a person certified by the department of state health services obtaining 40 classroom hours and passing the required written examination.
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
means a person certified by the department of state health services as minimally proficient to perform basic life support and as further required by the Texas Health and Safety Code and relevant regulations.
Emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I)
means a person certified by the department of state health services as minimally proficient to provide emergency pre-hospital care by initiating under medical supervision certain procedures, as regulated by the Texas Health and Safety Code and relevant regulations.
Emergency medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P) and licensed paramedic (LP)
mean a person certified by the department of state health services as minimally proficient to provide advanced life support that includes initiating under medical supervision of certain procedures, as regulated by the Texas Health and Safety Code and relevant regulations.
EMS director
means the director of the emergency medical service department.
Medical director
means the physician that has the medical responsibility of procedures and protocols for the care of patients being cared for by an emergency medical service.
Person
means an individual, corporation, or partnership.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-45; Ordinance 2021-14 adopted 5/10/21)
This article is cumulative of applicable state laws and regulations. This article establishes standards for the operations and services of ambulances that are stricter in many respects than those provided by applicable state laws and regulations. To the extent of any difference in the standards for operations or services of an ambulance between this article and state standards, then the more restrictive shall apply.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-46)
Any person who desires to operate an ambulance service within the jurisdiction of the city must obtain an ambulance service provider’s permit. Application should be made with the EMS director, or a designated representative, of the city. It shall be unlawful for any person, including a provider, other than an employee of the of the department officially on duty, or an agency of the United States, to furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise for, or otherwise be engaged in the operation of an emergency medical service in the city or its jurisdiction. It shall be unlawful to operate an ambulance within the jurisdiction of the city by picking up non-emergency patients without having an ambulance service provider’s permit issued by the city.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-47)
Application shall be filed with the EMS director, or a designated representative, on the ambulance service provider permit form, subscribed and sworn to before a notary public. The ambulance service provider permit form shall include:
(1) 
Complete name.
(2) 
Complete addresses (business and home).
(3) 
Phone numbers (business and home).
(4) 
Provide proof of licenses issued by the department of state health services.
(5) 
Proof of insurance as required by the requirements established by the department of state health services.
(6) 
Copy of types of ambulances to be used and VIN, license plate numbers, make, model, year, and manufacturer of each unit.
(7) 
Statement that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude within the past ten years.
(8) 
The application must be approved by the EMS director, or a designated representative. If the person submitting the application represents a partnership, then such information shall be given on all partners and persons having an interest in the business. If a corporation, the name and location of its principal place of business, and the name, date of birth, telephone number and address of all the officers, directors and all stockholders of the organization. If the applicant’s business is a corporation or association, a copy of the documents establishing the business and the name, address, and citizenship of each person with a direct interest in the business. Corporate applicants must provide a certified copy of the corporate charter, articles of incorporation is in good standing.
(9) 
There shall be one copy of all related information submitted to the city for processing purposes.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-48; Ordinance 2021-14 adopted 5/10/21)
(a) 
The application fee per person, partnership, or corporation having applied for the city ambulance service provider permit shall be as provided for in appendix A of this code and shall be nonrefundable. An application fee may be approved for transfer by the EMS director, or a designated representative, for a change in ownership. The transfer fee shall be as provided for in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Equipment may be inspected by the EMS director, or a designated representative, to ensure compliance.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-49)
(a) 
Each vehicle to be used shall comply with the following requirements and such other requirements or the department may establish modifications as:
(1) 
Comply with the Federal General Services Administration specifications KKK-A-1822 minimum requirements.
(2) 
Comply with the Texas Transportation Code.
(3) 
Shall be equipped as required by 25 Tex. Admin. Code section 157.11
(b) 
Each vehicle may be inspected by the director or a designated representative at any time during the permitted period to ensure compliance as mandated by the department of state health services rules and regulations.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-50; Ordinance 2021-14 adopted 5/10/21)
(a) 
Each vehicle shall be staffed at the level required by the department of state health services.
(b) 
A provider shall maintain a current personnel file on each employee.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-51)
An ambulance service provider’s permit shall be personal to the holder and may not be sold, transferred or assigned, including any assignment by operation of law, without the consent from the city. Unless sooner revoked, an ambulance service provider permit is valid from the date of issuance until December 31st of that calendar year. Prior to any placement in service of an ambulance, the provider will submit the required information on the ambulance along with a fee as provided for in appendix A of this code from the date of application through December 31st of that calendar year.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-52; Ordinance 2021-14 adopted 5/10/21)
A renewal application shall be filed at least 60 days prior to expiration in order to ensure any action before expiration of the permit. Prior to any placement in service or replacement of an ambulance, the provider will submit the required information on the ambulance along with a fee as provided for in appendix A of this code. The EMS director, or a designated representative, shall have the authority to approve a renewal permit application.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-53)
No person shall furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise be engaged in the operation or control of any ambulance upon the public streets or thoroughfares in the city or attend or render any care to any patient for compensation without having been issued an ambulance service provider permit by the city in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-54)
The ambulance service provider permit shall be displayed on the issued ambulance on the back window of each permitted vehicle.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-55)
(a) 
The EMS director may immediately suspend the operations, in whole or in part, of a provider if the director determines that continued operation by the provider would endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public. The director shall present a written determination to the provider, detailing the deficiencies or violations forming the basis of his determination and setting therein a reasonable period for compliance. The city may cause an ambulance service provider’s permit to be terminated or may refuse renewal as provided in this section, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Failure to meet the requirements in this article;
(2) 
Failure to pay the city permit fee;
(3) 
Violation of rules in this article;
(4) 
Failure to maintain department of state health services standards;
(5) 
Lapse in permit; process shall begin with a nonrefundable application fee as provided for in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
In the event that the provider fails to comply with any other applicable requirement as set forth in this article or in the event that the permit was issued through error or on the basis of materially false or incomplete information, the city may give the provider written notice of the grounds and may schedule a hearing regarding the termination of the permit or the refusal to renew the permit, as applicable. The provider shall be given written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing. A failure to achieve compliance shall convert the suspension to a termination. A provider may appeal a termination to the city council by filing a request with the city manager within ten days of the termination. The city council may uphold or modify the EMS director’s determination.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-57)
The ambulance provider’s permit application and requirements shall not apply to public agencies.
(1988 Code, ch. 8, sec. 7.00; Ordinance adopted 8/9/71; Ordinance 2009-10, sec. 7.00, adopted 4/27/09; 2010 Code, sec. 2-58)
Violations of this article may be enforced by either (1) a complaint filed with the municipal court of the city; or by (2) citation issued by a police officer, upon observing or otherwise discovering a violation or noncompliance of any regulation and/or requirement established by this article.
(Ordinance 2022-11 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and each day the violation continues shall be a separate offense. Each offense shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred ($500.00) dollars.
(b) 
Each day that any violation of this article is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(c) 
This section shall not serve to limit any other remedies available to the city in law or equity for a violation or noncompliance with the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 2022-11 adopted 6/13/22)