Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797. Section 1797.
This division shall be known and may be cited as the Emergency Medical Services System and the Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Act.
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [1797. - 1797.11.]
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 1.
in effectCal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.1. Section 1797.1.
The Legislature finds and declares that it is the intent of this act to provide the state with a statewide system for emergency medical services by establishing within the Health and Welfare Agency the Emergency Medical Services Authority, which is responsible for the coordination and integration of all state activities concerning emergency medical services.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.2. Section 1797.2.
It is the intent of the Legislature to maintain and promote the development of EMT-P paramedic programs where appropriate throughout the state and to initiate EMT-II limited advanced life support programs only where geography, population density, and resources would not make the establishment of a paramedic program feasible.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.3. Section 1797.3.
The provisions of this division do not preclude the adoption of additional training standards for EMT-II and EMT-P personnel by local EMS agencies, consistent with standards adopted pursuant to Sections 1797.171, 1797.172, and 1797.214.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.4. Section 1797.4.
Any reference in any provision of law to mobile intensive care paramedics subject to former Article 3 (commencing with Section 1480) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 2 shall be deemed to be a reference to persons holding valid certificates under this division as an EMT-I, EMT-II, or EMT-P. Any reference in any provision of law to mobile intensive care nurses subject to former Article 3 (commencing with Section 1480) of Chapter 2.5 of Division 2 shall be deemed to be a reference to persons holding valid authorization under this division as an MICN.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.5. Section 1797.5.
It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the development, accessibility, and provision of emergency medical services to the people of the State of California.
Further, it is the policy of the State of California that people shall be encouraged and trained to assist others at the scene of a medical emergency. Local governments, agencies, and other organizations shall be encouraged to offer training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and lifesaving first aid techniques so that people may be adequately trained, prepared, and encouraged to assist others immediately.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.6. Section 1797.6.
(a)
It is the policy of the State of California to ensure the provision of effective and efficient emergency medical care. The Legislature finds and declares that achieving this policy has been hindered by the confusion and concern in the 58 counties resulting from the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Community Communications Company, Inc. v. City of Boulder, Colorado, 455 U.S. 40, 70 L. Ed. 2d 810, 102 S. Ct. 835, regarding local governmental liability under federal antitrust laws.
(b)
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section and Sections 1797.85 and 1797.224 to prescribe and exercise the degree of state direction and supervision over emergency medical services as will provide for state action immunity under federal antitrust laws for activities undertaken by local governmental entities in carrying out their prescribed functions under this division.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.7. Section 1797.7.
(a)
The Legislature finds and declares that the ability of some prehospital emergency medical care personnel to move from the jurisdiction of one local EMS agency which issued certification and authorization to the jurisdiction of another local EMS agency which utilizes the same level of emergency medical care personnel will be unreasonably hindered if those personnel are required to be retested and recertified by each local EMS agency.
(b)
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section and Section 1797.185 to ensure that EMT-P personnel who have met state competency standards for their basic scope of practice, as defined in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 100135) of Division 9 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, and are currently certified are recognized statewide without having to repeat testing or certification for that same basic scope of practice.
(c)
It is the intent of the Legislature that local EMS agencies may require prehospital emergency medical care personnel who were certified in another jurisdiction to be oriented to the local EMS system and receive training and demonstrate competency in any optional skills for which they have not received accreditation. It is also the intent of the Legislature that no individual who possesses a valid California EMT-P certificate shall be prevented from beginning working within the standard statewide scope of practice of an EMT-P if he or she is accompanied by a EMT-P who is currently certified in California and is accredited by the local EMS agency. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the local EMS agency provide, or arrange for the provision of, training and accreditation testing in local EMS operational policies and procedures and any optional skills utilized in the local EMS system within 30 days of application for accreditation as an EMT-P by the local EMS agency.
(d)
It is the intent of the Legislature that subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) not be construed to hinder the ability of local EMS agencies to maintain medical control within their EMS system in accordance with the requirements of this division.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.8. Section 1797.8.
(a)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)
“EMT-I” means any person who has training and a valid certificate as prescribed by Section 1797.80.
(2)
“EMT certifying authority” means the medical director of the local emergency medical services agency.
(b)
Any county may, at the discretion of the county or regional medical director of emergency medical services, develop a program to certify an EMT-I to administer naloxone hydrochloride by means other than intravenous injection.
(c)
Any county that chooses to implement a program to certify an EMT-I to administer naloxone hydrochloride, as specified in subdivision (b), shall approve and administer a training and testing program leading to certification consistent with guidelines established by the state Emergency Medical Services Authority.
(d)
On or before July 1, 2003, the state Emergency Medical Services Authority shall develop guidelines relating to the county certification programs authorized pursuant to subdivision (b).
(e)
An EMT-I may be authorized by the EMT certifying authority to administer naloxone hydrochloride by means other than intravenous injection only if the EMT-I has completed training and passed an examination administered or approved by the EMT certifying authority in the area.
(f)
This section shall be operative only until the operative date of regulations that revise the regulations set forth in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 100101) of Division 9 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations and that authorize an EMT-I to receive EMT-II training in administering naloxone hydrochloride without having to complete the entire EMT-II certification course.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.9. Section 1797.9.
(a)
This division shall not be construed to regulate or authorize state or local regulation of any nonmedical aspects of the following:
(1)
Public aircraft certification or configuration.
(2)
Public aircraft maintenance procedures and documentation.
(3)
Piloting techniques and methods of piloting public aircraft.
(4)
Public aircraft crewmember qualifications.
(5)
Pilot certification or qualifications for public aircraft.
(b)
For purposes of this section, “public aircraft” has the same meaning as in Section 1.1 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.10. Section 1797.10.
(a)
For the purposes of this section, “police canine” means a canine that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a state or local law enforcement agency, a correctional agency, a fire department, a special fire district, or the State Fire Marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, flammable materials, or missing persons, the enforcement of laws, the investigation of fires, or the apprehension of offenders.
(b)
For the purposes of this section, “search and rescue dog” has the same meaning as in Section 54.25 of the Civil
Code.
(c)
A person licensed to operate an ambulance pursuant to Section 2510 of the Vehicle Code or a person who operates ambulances owned or operated by a fire department of a federally recognized Indian tribe may transport a police canine or a search and rescue dog that is injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or similar facility if there is no other person requiring medical attention or transport at that time. To the extent feasible, the handler of the police canine or search and rescue dog shall accompany the animal during transport to maintain control of the animal during transport.
(d)
(1)
Notwithstanding Section 4825 of the Business and Professions Code, an
emergency responder may provide basic first aid to a police canine or search and rescue dog that is injured in the line of duty while the police canine or search and rescue dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility.
(2)
An emergency responder who acts in good faith and not for compensation to provide basic first aid to an injured police canine or search and rescue dog while the police canine or search and rescue dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility is not subject to criminal or civil liability for any injury to the canine that occurs during the emergency transportation or administration of medical care described in this section, subject to the limitation described in paragraph (3).
(3)
This subdivision does
not apply to an act or omission by an emergency responder that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
(4)
An emergency responder who provides basic first aid to an injured police canine or search and rescue dog while the police canine or search and rescue dog is being transported to a veterinary clinic or similar facility does not render the transportation or care “for compensation” for the purpose of this section, notwithstanding their receipt of compensation for other services as a result of their employment.
(e)
This section does not require an ambulance to transport, or an emergency responder to provide first aid to, a police canine or search and rescue dog. A contract for the provision of emergency
medical response or transport shall not contain, as a condition of award, a requirement to provide care or transport to police canines or search and rescue dogs.
(f)
(1)
An ambulance operator that elects to provide transport to police canines or search and rescue dogs pursuant to this section shall develop policies regarding the transport of canines, including, but not limited to, what additional equipment should be carried by the ambulance and any necessary decontamination procedures following the transport of the animal before returning the ambulance to human patient use. The policies shall be submitted to, and approved by, the local emergency medical services agency.
(2)
This subdivision does not apply to ambulances owned or operated by a fire department of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1797.11. Section 1797.11.
(a)
(1)
Notwithstanding any other law, the licensure, certification, or accreditation requirements of this division shall not apply to any Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-I), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-II), or Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P), or similar emergency medical services (EMS) provider licensed or certified as an EMT-I, EMT-II, EMT-P, or similar EMS provider in another state or territory of the United States, who provides EMS for which they are licensed, if they are authorized by the chief medical officer pursuant to subdivision (b) to provide EMS at sites in this state sanctioned by the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and associated with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
(2)
For purposes of this subdivision, “similar EMS provider” means an EMS provider that meets both of the following requirements:
(A)
Licensed or certified in a state or territory of the United States that uses a license categorization that differs from this state.
(B)
Licensed or certified to provide services similar to those provided by an EMT-I, EMT-II, or EMT-P licensed or certified in this state.
(b)
The chief medical officer (CMO) shall do both of the following:
(1)
Authorize EMS personnel under this section, based on system needs and informed by committee needs, qualifications of the emergency medical services personnel, and public safety considerations.
(2)
Be medical control for any EMS personnel who are authorized under paragraph (1) of this subdivision.
(c)
To be authorized by the CMO under this section, and before being deployed by the CMO, EMS personnel shall provide the CMO a valid copy of a professional license or certification and photograph identification issued by the state or territory in which the EMS personnel holds a license or certification.
(d)
Emergency medical services providers authorized by the CMO to provide health care pursuant to this section shall not be liable on account of any act or omission taken in good faith while engaged in the provision of services authorized pursuant to this section. As used in this subdivision, “good faith” shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.
(e)
Emergency medical services providers authorized by the CMO to provide health care pursuant to this section shall be authorized to perform the California basic scope of practice for an EMT-I, EMT-II, and EMT-P, as defined in Title 22 of Division 9 of the California Code of Regulations, if the provider has successfully completed the training to perform these skills and they are within the scope of practice for the state in which they are licensed or certified.
(f)
Sites that may be sanctioned by the committee include competition, noncompetition, athlete village, training, or support sites in this state.
(g)
Authorization under this section shall be valid from May 15, 2028, to September 15, 2028, inclusive, or until authorization is otherwise withdrawn by the CMO.
(h)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)
“Chief medical officer” or “CMO” means the chief medical officer of the Emergency Medical Services Authority.
(2)
“Committee” means the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026