Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Division of Emergency Medical Operations
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
64J-3.002: Certification of 911 Emergency Dispatchers
64J-3.003: Renewal of 911 Emergency Dispatchers Certification
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To identify training and education equivalency criteria for 911 emergency dispatchers and to identify the requirements for renewal of the 911 emergency dispatchers certification. Please note the 64J-3.002 rule title will change to: 64J-3.002 Public Safety Telecommunication Course Equivalency.
SUMMARY: The proposed rules are in accordance to the “Denise Amber Lee Act” by Section 401.465, F.S. The statute gives the department the authority to establish by rule the educational and training criteria for the certification and recertification of 911 emergency dispatchers. These are new rules being adopted to meet the legislative directive outlined in Section 401.465, F.S. Rule 64J-3.002, F.A.C., will incorporate DH Form 5067, 911 Emergency Dispatcher Training Course Equivalency Application. Rule 64J-3.003, F.A.C., will incorporate DH Form 5068, Renewal/Change of Status 911 Emergency Dispatcher Certification Form. These forms can be found on the “Legislation and Rules” page on the Bureau of EMS website at http://www.fl-ems.com.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The agency has determined that this rule will not have an impact on small business. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 401.35, 401.465 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 401.65 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: August 28, 2009, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, 3rd Floor, Room 301, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Interested parties may submit written comments for the consideration of the department before the initiation of rule adoption proceedings. Comments are due no later than August 21, 2009, in order to be considered by the department and made part of the record of the rulemaking proceeding, pursuant to subsection 120.54(3)(c)1., F.S. Pursuant to subsection 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., changes to the proposed language in this notice, other than a technical change, that does not affect the substance of the rule, must be supported by the record of the public hearing on the rule, must be in response to written material received on or before the date of the final public hearing (within 21 days of the Notice of Proposed Rule/Notice of Rulemaking), or must be in response to a proposed objection by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee. Send comments to either Alexander Macy or Lisa Walker at 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-18, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Visit the Bureau of EMS website, http://www.fl-ems.com, to subscribe to the electronic mailing list.
A conference line will be available for those unable to attend in person. We request that parties from the same agency utilize one line if possible to allow other participants to dial in.
Toll free conference number: 1(888)808-6959; Conference code: 1454440
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 2 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Alexander Macy, phone: (850)245-4440, ext. *2735 or by email at: Alexander_Macy@doh.state.fl.us. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Steve McCoy, EMS Systems Analyst, Phone: (850)245-4440, ext. *2727 or by email: Steve_McCoy@doh.state.fl.us

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

64J-3.002 Public Safety Telecommunication Course Equivalency.

An agency seeking to determine equivalency of their training program shall submit to the Department of Health a copy of their training curriculum and DH Form 5067, 06/09, 911 Emergency Dispatcher Training Course Equivalency Application, which is incorporated by reference and available from the department, as defined by subsection 64J-1.001(9), F.A.C., or is found on the internet forms page at: http//:www.fl-ems.com. The training program shall consist of no less than 208 hours. The department shall identify from DH Form 5067, 06/09, 911 Emergency Dispatcher Training Course Equivalency Application, the instructional objectives within their training program that meet each of the student performance standards as outlined in the Department of Education’s Public Safety Telecommunication Curriculum Framework, Program Number P090101, Occupational Completion Point – Data Code A, Dispatcher: Police Fire and Ambulance, available for reference on the Department of Education website at: http://www.fldoe.org. Entities subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Education are not eligible for this determination.

Rulemaking Authority 401.35, 401.465 FS. Law Implemented 401.465 FS. History–New________.

 

64J-3.003 Renewal of 911 Emergency Dispatcher Certification.

(1) To be eligible for renewal certification as a 911 emergency dispatcher, the applicant shall submit DH Form 5068, 06/09, Renewal/Change of Status 911 Emergency Dispatcher Certification Form, which is incorporated by reference and available from the department, as defined by subsection 64J-1.001(9), F.A.C., or is found on the internet forms page at http://www.fl-ems.com, prior to February 1 of each odd year and complete the following:

(a) Complete 24 hours of 911 emergency dispatcher renewal training based on the Department of Education Public Safety Telecommunication Curriculum Framework, Program Number P090101, available for reference on the Department of Education website at: http://www.fldoe.org. The department shall accept either the affirmation from a public safety agency as defined in Section 365.171(3)(c), F.S., or a certificate of completion of 24 hours of renewal training from a department-approved Florida 911 emergency dispatcher training program equivalent to the most recently approved emergency dispatcher course of the Department of Education.

(b) Applicants applying for recertification must obtain 24 hours of renewal training, as defined in paragraph 64J-3.002(1)(a), F.A.C., which may be earned through various delivery methods outlined in Table I.

 

911 Emergency Dispatcher Renewal Requirement

Table I

Delivery Method

Maximum Credit Hours Allowed

Journal Review

12 Hours

Workshop/Seminar/Classroom

16 Hours

Multi-media

12 Hours

QA/QI Review

12 Hours

Planning and Management Meetings

12 Hours

Teaching

12 Hours

Protocol Review

12 Hours

 

(2) An individual who has received an initial certification as a 911 emergency dispatcher of no more than 180 days prior to February 1 of each odd year shall be exempt from the first renewal period. If an initial certification is obtained prior to August 1st of the preceding renewal year, that certificate holder must apply for renewal certification.

(3) In the event a certified 911 emergency dispatcher changes the mailing address, name, or place of supervised full-time employment he or she has provided to the department, the applicant shall notify the department upon renewal.

Rulemaking Authority 401.35, 401.465 FS. Law Implemented 401.465 FS. History–New_________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: John Bixler, Chief, Bureau of EMS, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-18, Tallahassee, FL 32399
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros, Florida State Surgeon General, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-18, Tallahassee, FL 32399
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 21, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: October 24, 2008 Vol. No. 34/43 and March 13, 2009 Vol. No. 35/10