Georgia CommonsHB 209: Health; designate emergency medical services, including ambulance service, as an essential service
Last action February 4, 2025 · House Second Readers
A Georgia House bill would formally declare emergency medical services, including ambulance service, to be essential services in the state, without changing who regulates or coordinates them.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia law does not currently label emergency medical services (EMS) as an 'essential service.' This bill would add a new section to the state's EMS law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 11 of Title 31) declaring that EMS and ambulance service, whether run by a public agency, a nonprofit, or a for-profit company, are essential services in Georgia. The bill is careful to limit its own effect. It says the new label does not change how local coordinating entities manage ambulance service within territorial zones and health districts, and it does not give any state agency or local government new authority, oversight, or regulatory power. In effect, the bill adds a formal statement about EMS's status without altering existing rules, funding mechanisms, or who oversees the service. Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 31-11-13) declaring EMS and ambulance service, public, nonprofit, or for-profit, to be essential services in Georgia.
- States that the designation does not change how local coordinating entities manage ambulance service within existing territorial zones and health districts.
- Specifies the bill does not grant any state agency or local government new authority, oversight, or regulatory power over EMS.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new designation.
Who it affects
Ambulance and emergency medical service providers, including public agencies, private nonprofits, and for-profit companies, along with the local coordinating entities that manage EMS within Georgia's territorial zones and health districts.
Why it matters
By formally labeling EMS as essential, the bill could carry symbolic or practical weight in future policy, funding, or emergency-planning discussions, even though it explicitly avoids changing current oversight, regulation, or local coordination of ambulance services in Georgia.
Key provisions
- Section 1 creates new Code section 31-11-13, declaring EMS and ambulance service essential regardless of whether the provider is public, nonprofit, or for-profit.
- Subsection (a) applies the essential-service designation broadly across all types of EMS providers operating in Georgia.
- Subsection (b) clarifies the designation does not alter existing local coordinating arrangements within territorial zones and health districts.
- Subsection (b) also bars the bill from being read as granting new authority, oversight, or regulatory power to any state agency or local government.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause found in most bills.
From the bill
“Emergency medical services, including ambulance service, whether provided by a public, private nonprofit, or private for profit entity, are hereby declared to be essential services in this state.”
“This Code section shall not be construed to grant new or additional authority, oversight, or regulatory power to any state agency or local government of this state.”
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Ruwa Romman (D, HD-097)
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
- Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
- Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
Topics
- emergency medical services
- ambulance service
- health policy
- essential services designation