Or. Admin. R. 333-255-0060

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 8, August 1, 2024

Section 333-255-0060 - Ground Ambulance Vehicle Construction Criteria for Initial Licensure

(1) As used in this rule:

(a) "New ground ambulance vehicle" means a ground ambulance vehicle constructed by an ambulance vehicle manufacturer that has not been previously operated and is not a remount.

(b) "Previously operated ground ambulance vehicle" means a used or previously licensed ground ambulance vehicle, or a currently licensed ground ambulance vehicle that is being transferred to a licensed ambulance service, and is not a remount.

(2)

(a) The Authority shall only approve an initial application received by the Authority for a new ground ambulance vehicle license from an ambulance service agency that has a signed, dated contract with an ambulance manufacturer for the construction of a new ground ambulance:

(A) Between June 15, 2019 and June 30, 2022, if the new ground ambulance vehicle is constructed to comply with:

(i) The CAAS, GVS, v.1.0 Edition, July 1, 2016 incorporated by reference; or

(ii) The NFPA, Standard for Automotive Ambulances, NFPA 1917, 2016 Edition, incorporated by reference.

(B) On or after July 1, 2022, if the new ground ambulance vehicle is constructed to comply with

(i) The CAAS, GVS, v.2.0 Edition, July 1, 2019, incorporated by reference; or

(ii) The NFPA, Standard for Automotive Ambulances, NFPA 1917, 2019 Edition, incorporated by reference.

(b) Prior to granting an application for licensure, a new ground ambulance vehicle must have:

(A) A CAAS GVS certification sticker and verification document(s); or

(B) An NFPA certification sticker and verification document(s).

(3)

(a) The Authority may only approve an initial application for a previously operated ground ambulance vehicle if the vehicle meets any one of the following construction criteria:

(A) The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), November 1, 1994, Federal Specification for the Star-of-Life Ambulance Certification standards (KKK-A-1822D);

(B) The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), June 1, 2002, Federal Specification for the Star-of-Life Ambulance Certification standards (KKK-A-1822E);

(C) The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), August 1, 2007, Federal Specification for the Star-of-Life Ambulance Certification standards (KKK-A-1822F);

(D) The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), Ground Vehicle Standard (GVS) for Ambulances, v.1.0 Edition, July 1, 2016, or v.2.0 Edition, July 1, 2019; or

(E) The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Standard for Automotive Ambulances, NFPA 1917, 2016 Edition or 2019 Edition.

(b) A previously operated ground ambulance vehicle that meets the construction standards specified in paragraph (3)(a)(A) or (B) of this rule, must be inspected by an Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) certified by the EVT Certification Commission as an ambulance technician who provides documentation that the ambulance is in good operating condition and meets minimum safety requirements.

(4) A licensed ambulance service that remounts a licensed ground ambulance vehicle or previously operated ground ambulance vehicle must apply for a new, initial ambulance vehicle license prior to operating the remounted vehicle.

(5) The Authority shall only approve an initial application for a remounted Type I or Type III ground ambulance vehicle received by the Authority between June 28, 2021 and June 30, 2022, if:

(a) The patient compartment was built after November 1, 1994; and

(b) The remounting work is completed by a:

(A) Recognized ambulance manufacturer;

(B) Recognized vehicle modifier;

(C) Remount center; or

(D) Licensed ambulance service with an established in-house remount program and is inspected by a certified EVT in accordance with subsection (3)(b) of this rule.

(c) The remounting work is completed in accordance with any federal regulations, any nationally recognized vehicle modification techniques, and using any industry standard parts and components.

(6) A recognized ambulance manufacturer, a recognized vehicle modifier, a remount center, or ambulance service agency with an established in-house remount program completing a remount shall provide a notarized statement that the structural integrity of the specific patient compartment was not compromised during the remounting and must provide a Final Stage Vehicle Manufacturing Certificate of Compliance.

(7) A licensed ambulance service may establish an in-house remount program by obtaining the necessary training, appropriate equipment and facilities to remount a vehicle to the described standard.

(8) The Authority shall only approval an initial application for a remounted Type I or Type III ground ambulance vehicle received by the Authority on or after July 1, 2022 if the ground ambulance vehicle complies with either the CAAS, GVS, v.2.0 Edition, Section F, dated July 1, 2019, incorporated by reference or the NFPA 1917, 2019 Edition, Chapter 10 incorporated by reference.

(a) The remounted ground ambulance vehicle shall show evidence of the CAAS GVS remount standard compliance sticker, or the NFPA 1917 certification and payload label.

(b) The licensed ambulance service shall maintain appropriate documentation confirming compliance with the remount standard.

(9) The Authority may license a new ground ambulance vehicle that is not fully compliant with the standards in section (2) or a licensed ground ambulance vehicle or previously operated ground ambulance vehicle that has been remounted and is not fully compliant with the standards in section (8) if the Authority determines that the exceptions to the construction standards do not affect patient or EMS provider safety.

(10) The owner of a ground ambulance vehicle must select an exterior color, emblems, and markings for the ground ambulance vehicle that will ensure the prompt recognition of that vehicle as an ambulance. All ground ambulance vehicles shall be clearly identified by appropriate emblems and markings on the front, side, roof, and rear of the vehicle.

(11) Each licensed ground ambulance vehicle shall display the following emblems and terms in the location(s) specified:

(a) "Star-of-Life" emblem: Shall comply with the specifications adopted by the US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

(A) Sides - a 12 to 16-inch emblem must be located on the left and right side-panels; and

(B) Roof - a 32-inch emblem must be located on the roof.

(b) The word "AMBULANCE":

(A) Front - centered, in block letters, not less than four inches high, must be in mirror image and centered above the grille; and

(B) Rear - in block letters of not less than six inches in height and centered on the rear door panels or an approved alternative.

(C) Acceptable alternatives for the word "AMBULANCE" include generic terms that do not connote any particular level of service, limited to "MEDIC UNIT," "FIRE MEDIC UNIT," "EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES," or "EMS UNIT".

(c) Service name or logo that matches the service name on the application must be visible on the vehicle exterior in a location that does not interfere with the term "AMBULANCE" or the "Star-of-Life" emblem;

(12) A licensed ground ambulance vehicle may not display on its exterior any level of service which is not provided at all times when that ground ambulance vehicle is in operation.

Or. Admin. R. 333-255-0060

HD 63, f. 6-6-74, ef. 6-25-74; HD 1-1981, f. & ef. 1-14-81; Renumbered from 333-023-0655; HD 16-1986, f. & ef. 9-9-86; HD 19-1991, f. & cert. ef. 10-18-91; HD 18-1994, f. 6-30-94, cert. ef. 7-1-94, Renumbered from 333-028-0055; OHD 5-2001, f. & cert. ef. 4-24-01; PH 2-2007, f. & cert. ef. 2-1-07; PH 12-2010, f. 6-30-10, cert. ef. 7-1-10; PH 1-2013, f. & cert. ef. 1-25-13; PH 230-2018, amend filed 06/13/2018, effective 6/15/2018; PH 14-2019, amend filed 08/23/2019, effective 8/23/2019; PH 12-2021, amend filed 03/11/2021, effective 3/11/2021; PH 25-2021, temporary amend filed 06/28/2021, effective 6/28/2021 through 12/24/2021; PH 87-2021, amend filed 12/09/2021, effective 1/1/2022

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 682.017, 682.068

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 682.017 - 682.117, 682.991