Any person desiring an ambulance service provider license shall file with the Health Director an application upon a form provided by the Health Director. Such application shall be accompanied by an application fee in the amount set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors to defray the expenses of processing the application and shall be verified under penalty of perjury. The application shall include the following information:
(a) 
The name and address of the applicant and all owners and officers of the business and their percentage of ownership.
(b) 
The business address and, if different, any and all addresses where any ambulance, operating equipment and supplies are located or will be kept.
(c) 
The fictitious name, if any, under which the applicant does business or proposes to do business.
(d) 
The training and experience of the applicant in the transportation and care of patients.
(e) 
A complete description of each vehicle the applicant proposes to operate. Such description should include make, year of manufacture (and in the case of type I and type III, the year of manufacture of patient compartment), motor and chassis numbers, California state license number for the current year, and the color scheme, insignia, name, monogram, or other distinguishing characteristics used to identify such vehicle.
(f) 
A statement of financial status and responsibility in a form acceptable to the Health Director.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)
Any person providing ambulance services on a nonprofit volunteer basis shall be exempt from the fee requirement set forth in this Article. All other application requirements of this Article shall apply.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
The application for an ambulance service provider license shall be accompanied by the following documents, where applicable:
(a) 
Evidence that all vehicles proposed to be used to provide services have been properly licensed and inspected by the State of California.
(b) 
Evidence that each person employed by or working for the applicant as an ambulance driver or ambulance attendant possesses a valid certificate as required by state laws and regulations, this Chapter, and the EMS Agency Policies and Procedures Manual.
(c) 
A map or other description of the service area in which the applicant proposes to provide ambulance services.
(d) 
Certificates or evidence of insurance verifying compliance with this Article.
(e) 
Such other information or documentation as the Health Director determines is reasonably necessary to determine whether the provisions of this Chapter have been and/or will be complied with.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)
The Health Director shall review all applications for licenses and make such investigation of the applicant and the vehicles, equipment and employees to be used by the applicant, as he or she deems necessary and appropriate. Upon the basis of the application, evidence submitted, and results of any investigations and audits, the Health Director shall make a finding on the qualifications of the applicant under this Chapter, the EMS Agency Policies and Procedures Manual, and any applicable State and Federal laws and regulations, and whether additional services or equipment should be provided. On the basis of his or her findings, the Health Director shall recommend to the Board whether or not the license should be granted, and any conditions on which the license should be issued.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
(a) 
The Board shall hold a public hearing to consider the application and the Health Director's recommendation, which hearing shall be held not later than forty-five (45) days after a completed application has been filed.
The Clerk of the Board shall set a date and time for the hearing and shall send a notice thereof by regular mail at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing to the applicant and to any interested party requesting such notice. The clerk shall also give notice of the hearing to the general public by publishing a notice of the hearing once, at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation which is circulated in the service area(s) which would be affected by the results of the hearing.
(b) 
At the hearing, the Board shall hear all pertinent evidence offered by all interested persons. The Board may continue the hearing from time to time if it finds that the continuance is necessary or desirable.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3559, effective 6-20-19)
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board shall issue or deny the license, with or without such conditions as it may find necessary to promote and safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the residents and visitors of the County, and otherwise carry out the purposes and provisions of this Chapter. The license shall designate the service area(s) within which the licensee shall provide primary emergency service in compliance with the EMS Agency Policies and Procedures Manual. The Board may also recommend to the EMS Agency an exclusive operating area within which the licensee shall be authorized to operate, in accordance with Article 3 of this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
Prior to the issuance or renewal of any ambulance service provider license, an applicant shall file or have on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, with copies to the Health Director and the County Risk Manager policies or certificates of insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in California in form satisfactory to the County. The coverage shall be at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit per occurrence to include professional liability, automobile liability, and commercial general liability with no annual aggregate limitation. Ambulance companies using air ambulances shall provide in addition at least Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) combined single limit liability coverage to include aircraft liability and general liability. Such policies shall be issued at the expense of the applicant and maintained by him/her during the entire term of the license. The license shall be deemed automatically suspended during any period when such insurance is not in full force and effect. The County, its officers, agents and employees shall be named as additional insureds. Such insurance shall include a deductible amount acceptable to the County. The policies shall provide that the County shall be notified in writing by the insurance company thirty (30) days in advance of the termination or material alteration of such policies from whatever cause. Alternatively, an applicant may file a verification of self-insurance, or pooling arrangement, subject to review and approval by the Health Director and the Risk Manager.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
If the Board finds that the need for service to a service area or portion thereof, or to specific customers, justifies action before a complete investigation and final determination can be made pursuant to this Chapter, the Board may issue a temporary ambulance service provider license, which shall be valid only for a stated period, not to exceed six (6) months, on such conditions as the Board deems appropriate. Such ambulance service provider licenses may be issued without complying with the provisions of this Chapter governing notice and hearing.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
If ambulance service is disrupted or ended for any of the reasons set out in Article 3, or additional ambulance service is needed to prevent endangerment to the public health and safety, the Health Director or, in his or her absence, the Health Officer may issue temporary licenses so that service is provided in any service area or service is increased to two or more ambulance service providers in any area on a joint or rotating basis. Such emergency issuance of a temporary license shall be effective for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
(a) 
No ambulance service provider license shall be transferred by sale, assignment, change of ownership, corporate reorganization, merger, or otherwise, without the consent of the Board. Applicants for such transfers shall first file an application for the Board's consent with the Health Director, together with such information and documentation, as he shall require.
(b) 
The Health Director shall investigate the proposed transfer and shall file a report and recommendation with the Board regarding consent to the proposed transfer. The Board shall thereafter hold a hearing on the proposed transfer as provided in this Chapter.
(c) 
For purposes of this section, "transfer" shall not include changes of ownership not substantially effecting a change of control of an ambulance company.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
Ambulance service provider licenses shall be issued by the license collector upon order of the Board. The fee for each annual ambulance service provider license shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Each provider shall also pay an additional fee in the amount set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors for each vehicle proposed to be used by the ambulance service provider licensee. This fee shall be paid to the license collector for the balance of the initial calendar year, without proration, prior to the issuance of the ambulance service provider license. If such fee is not paid within thirty (30) days after the order of issuance by the Board, the application shall be deemed withdrawn and the license collector shall not issue an ambulance service provider license thereunder. Any applicant for a license for an exclusive operating area to be issued after a competitive procedure pursuant to Article 3 shall also pay an application fee in the amount set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors upon filing the application for the license, and in addition shall pay the annual fee specified in this section during each year of the exclusive operating area license. There shall be no refund or waiver of any part of any fee provided in this section except in accordance with sections 130 or 135 of this Ordinance Code.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)
Any person providing ambulance services on a nonprofit volunteer basis shall be exempt from the fee requirements set forth in this Article.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
The term of all ambulance service provider licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall be for one (1) year, except that all licenses issued for an exclusive operating area selected by competitive procedure pursuant to Article 3 of this Chapter shall be for a term of five (5) years.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)