AN ACT to amend and reenact section 23-27-04.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to emergency medical services personnel training.
Summary
SB 2100 amends North Dakota law governing emergency medical services (EMS) personnel training, testing, certification, licensure, and quality review. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to continue adopting rules that set minimum standards for EMS personnel, instructors, and training institutions, including standards for certification/licensure and quality improvement review.
A key change in the bill is that EMS instructors must be allowed to provide direct, entry-level certification training for emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians under department oversight, without needing to operate through an EMS training institute. The bill also confirms that licensing as an EMS training institution is optional, preserves the misdemeanor penalty for falsely claiming EMS certification or licensure status, and keeps quality review materials confidential from subpoena, discovery, or use in civil cases.
Impact
The bill updates section 23-27-04.3 of the North Dakota Century Code by clarifying the state’s regulatory framework for EMS training and credentialing. It affects the Department of Health and Human Services, EMS instructors, training institutions, and EMS personnel by expanding the ability of instructors to deliver entry-level training directly while maintaining state oversight and existing quality-review protections. It does not create a new licensing scheme, but it reinforces that training-institution licensure is optional and preserves confidentiality for quality improvement records.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 44-1 and the House 91-0, indicating strong bipartisan approval in both chambers. The lack of committee transcript material suggests there was little recorded public debate or visible opposition during the legislative process.
Contention
The main policy issue in the bill is the shift that allows EMS instructors to provide direct entry-level certification training without requiring an EMS training institute, which may raise questions about oversight, training consistency, and the role of formal training institutions. However, the overwhelming vote margins suggest any concerns were limited or resolved during drafting. The confidentiality provision for quality review information is another area that could matter to providers or litigants, but no specific opposition is reflected in the available record.