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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to emergency medical dispatchers; amending

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s. 768.1335, F.S.; requiring such dispatchers to have

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completed a training course before answering calls;

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providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Subsection (3) of section 768.1335, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     768.1335  Emergency Medical Dispatch Act; presumption.--

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     (3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the

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contrary, and unless otherwise immune under s. 768.28, any

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emergency medical dispatcher or the emergency medical dispatch

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agency, its agents, or its employees who utilize emergency

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medical dispatch protocols are presumed not to have acted

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negligently regarding any injuries or damages resulting from the

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use of emergency medical dispatch protocols, if the emergency

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medical dispatcher or the emergency medical dispatch agency, its

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agents, or its employees:

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     (a)  Properly trained their emergency medical dispatchers in

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an emergency medical dispatch that is substantially similar to

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standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and

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Materials or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Such dispatchers must have successfully completed an emergency

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medical dispatch course before being allowed to answer any calls

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for medical assistance.

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     (b)  Implemented standard practices and management for

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emergency medical dispatch or practices that are substantially

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similar to standards set forth by the American Society for

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Testing and Materials or the National Highway Traffic Safety

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Administration.

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     (c)  Utilized standard practices for training, instructor

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qualification, and certification eligibility of emergency medical

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dispatchers or practices that are substantially similar to

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standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and

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Materials or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.