Bill
AB 1403
Allows counties to directly operate or contract ambulance services with clear provider standards and non-exclusive area rules, reducing authority disputes.
Status and procedural history
- Introduced: February 21, 2025.
- Most recent action: Re‑referred to Committee on Emergency Management (Com. on E.M.), March 25, 2025.
- Committees: Emergency Management; Health.
- Digest flags: Majority vote; no appropriation; no fiscal committee required.
Purpose / intent
- Clarify and reaffirm county authority over prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) and ambulance services by consolidating and restating how counties, boards of supervisors, and designated local EMS agencies may provide or arrange ambulance services.
- Resolve confusion arising from EMS authorities being spread across multiple code sections by adding an express statutory authorization.
Key provisions (new Health & Safety Code § 1797.234)
1. Clarifies that a county board of supervisors (or the governing body of an entity or joint powers agency designated as the local EMS agency) may exercise statutory authority to support local EMS functions.
2. Specifies the means by which a county may provide ambulance services within its jurisdiction (any one or combination):
- Create a separate county department to operate ambulance services and equip/staff it like other county departments.
- Assign ambulance service duties to an existing county department and provide necessary staffing, vehicles, and equipment.
- Contract with cities or other local public agencies to provide ambulance services within applicable jurisdictions.
- Contract with private ambulance companies as allowed by statute (including existing EMS Act provisions).
3. Establishes that contracts/assignments under the county department or local public agency options (the first three bullets above) do NOT create “exclusive operating areas” under Section 1797.85 and therefore do not trigger the competitive procurement process in Section 1797.224.
4. Requires that any contract for emergency ambulance services under this section may only be entered into after the board (or governing body) adopts, by ordinance or resolution, a written policy setting minimum requirements for providers. Required policy elements include (text excerpted):
- Employment retention policies.
- Demonstrated experience serving similar populations and geography.
- Demonstrated diversity and equity efforts addressing vulnerable/underserved populations.
- Financial requirements (proof of insurance and bonding).
- Description of public information, education, and community involvement activities.
- (Bill text continues with additional contract provisions; full list in statutory text.)
Other notes
- The bill includes legislative findings describing confusion caused by EMS‑related authorities being scattered across various code sections and states the intent to clarify roles.
- Makes a nonsubstantive change to an existing provision of the Building Homes and Jobs Act.
- The bill makes related findings and declarations.
Who would be affected
- County boards of supervisors and county administrative departments (could assume direct operation of ambulance services).
- Local EMS agencies and joint powers authorities.
- Cities and local public agencies that currently provide or contract for ambulance services.
- Private ambulance companies and their employees (procurement dynamics and contractual requirements may change).
- Residents and patients served by prehospital EMS, including vulnerable and underserved populations (via required provider equity/community engagement provisions).
Potential impacts (practical considerations)
- Enables counties to directly operate ambulance services or assign them to county departments without triggering certain competitive procurement rules.
- Imposes standardized policy prerequisites for emergency ambulance contracts (may affect provider selection, financial readiness, community engagement, and labor practices).
- Clarifies legal authority, which could reduce litigation or disputes over who may provide EMS at the county level.
For full legal text and all contract requirements, see proposed Section 1797.234 in the Health and Safety Code as amended in the bill.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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