SB 1644 — Emergency Services

316.2398, ambulances as authorized under this chapter, and buses and taxicabs as authorized under s.

316.2399 may show or display red lights.

Section 3.

Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section 316.2398, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

316.2398 Display or use of red or red and white warning signals;

motor vehicles of volunteer firefighters or medical staff.— (1) A privately owned vehicle belonging to an active firefighter member of a regularly organized volunteer firefighting company or association, while en route to the fire station for the purpose of proceeding to the scene of a fire or other emergency or while en route to the scene of a fire or other emergency in the line of duty as an active firefighter member of a regularly organized firefighting company or association, may display or use red or red and white warning signals.

A privately owned vehicle belonging to a medical staff physician or technician or an ambulance driver as defined in s.

401.23 of a medical facility licensed by the state or of a volunteer ambulance service, while responding to an emergency in the line of duty, may display or use red warning signals.

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Present subsections (6) and (7) of section 401.25, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7) and (8), respectively, a new subsection (6) is added to that section, and paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of that section is amended, to read:

401.25 Licensure as a basic life support or an advanced life support service.— (2) The department shall issue a license for operation to any applicant who complies with the following requirements:

(d) The applicant has obtained a certificate of public convenience and necessity from each county in which the Page 2 of 5 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1644 40-01432B-25596-03162-25 20251644__20251644c1 (b)applicant Nowill inscriptionoperate. of any kind may appear across the face of the lens of the red or red and white warning signal.

(b)(c) In order for an active volunteer firefighter to display such red or red and white warning signals on his or her vehicle, the volunteer firefighter must first secure a written permit from the chief executive officers of the firefighting organization to use the red or red and white warning signals, and this permit must be carried by the volunteer firefighter at all times while the red or red and white warning signals are displayed.

(c)(d) An emergency medical technician, a doctor, a or paramedic, or an ambulance driver as defined in s.

401.23 who is using his or her personal vehicle with a red light to respond to an emergency call must have completed a 16-hour emergency vehicle operator course.

(2) A person who is not an active firefighter member of a regularly organized volunteer firefighting company or association or a physician or technician of the medical staff or an ambulance driver as defined in s.

401.23 of a medical facility licensed by the state or of a volunteer ambulance service may not display on any motor vehicle owned by him or her, at any time, any red or red and white warning signals as described in subsection (1).

(4) A physician or technician of the medical staff or an ambulance driver as defined in s.

401.23 of a medical facility licensed by the state or of a volunteer ambulance service may not operate any red warning signals as authorized in subsection (1), except when responding to an emergency in the line of duty.

Section 4.

Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section Page 4 of 7 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1644 40-01432B-25 20251644__ 401.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

401.25 Licensure as a basic life support or an advanced life support service.— (2) The department shall issue a license for operation to any applicant who complies with the following requirements:

(d) The applicant has obtained a certificate of public convenience and necessity from each county in which the applicant will operate.

4.d.4.

d.5.e.5.

e.6.6.

However, the volunteer ambulance service may receive funding from specialty Pagelicense 5plate ofproceeds. 7 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1644 40-01432B-25 20251644__ license plate proceeds.

As part of its application for licensure, provides to the department a management plan that includes a training program,Page dispatch3 protocols, a complaint management system, an accident or injury handling system, a quality assurance program, and proof of adequate5 insuranceCODING: coverage to meet state or county insurance requirements, whichever requirements are greater.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1644 596-03162-25 20251644c1 program, dispatch protocols, a complaint management system, an accident or injury handling system, a quality assurance program, and proof of adequate insurance coverage to meet state or county insurance requirements, whichever requirements are greater.

An applicant must also take all reasonable efforts to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the emergency medical services licensee within whose jurisdiction the applicant will provide services in order to facilitate communications and coordinate emergency Pageservices 6for situations beyond the scope of 7the CODING:applicant’s capacity and for situations of advanced life support that are deemed priority 1 or priority 2 emergencies.

(6) A volunteer ambulance service licensed under this section may not apply for, receive funds under, or participate in any grant program designed exclusively for publicly operated Page 4 of 5 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 SBCS 1644 40-01432B-25 20251644__ services for situationsSB beyond1644 the596-03162-25 scope20251644c1 offire thedepartments applicant’s capacity and for situations of advanced life support that are deemed priority 1 or priorityemergency 2medical emergencies.service agencies.

Section 5.3.

Paragraph (l) of subsection (1) of section 395.401, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

395.401 Trauma services system plans;

approval of trauma centers and pediatric trauma centers;

procedures;

renewal.— (1) (l) A county, upon the recommendations of the local or regional trauma agency, may adopt ordinances governing the transport of a patient who is receiving care in the field from prehospital emergency medical personnel when the patient meets specific criteria for trauma, burn, or pediatric centers adopted by the local or regional trauma agency.

These ordinances must be consistent with s.

395.4045, ordinances adopted under s.

401.25(7) s.

401.25(6), and the local or regional trauma system plan and, to the furthest possible extent, must ensure that individual patients receive appropriate medical care while protecting the interests of the community at large by making maximum use of available emergency medical care resources.

Section 4.

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