NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on September 16, 2010, the Florida Department of Health, Division of Emergency Medical Operations, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), has issued an order.
An emergency petition was filed by the School Board of Manatee County on behalf of Manatee Technical Institute and Jay Bush with the Department of Health on August 30, 2010. A notice was published on the Bureau of EMS website on September 3, 2010 and in the Florida Administrative Weekly on September 10, 2010. The petition requested a temporary variance of subparagraph 64J-1.0201(3)(a)2., Florida Administrative Code, which sets forth the minimum qualifications for a Program Director at a Florida-approved EMS Training Program, specifically the requirement of a Bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the United States Department of Education.
The Department of Health, Bureau of EMS has granted the request for variance. The general basis for this decision was that Petitioner met the general requirements for variance:
(a) Petitioner has an instructor, Mr. Jay Bush, who will receive his Bachelor’s degree in June 2011, and who is qualified as Program Director in all other respects due to his extensive background and professional experience, demonstrating that he possesses the skills required to achieve the purpose of the underlying statutes, and
(b) Petitioner has demonstrated a substantial economic hardship as it would be forced to cease operation of its EMS Training Program due to the lack of qualified instructors to assume the duties of Program Director.
Wherefore, based on the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the petition for temporary variance has been granted and allows Mr. Jay Bush to serve as Interim Program Director without a Bachelor’s degree, while employed at Manatee Technical Institute, through June 30, 2011.
A copy of the Order may be obtained by contacting: John Bixler, Chief, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C18, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1738, (850)245-4055, Fax: (850)488-9408, email: john_bixler@doh.state.fl.us.