To amend sections 505.38, 737.08, 737.22, 3737.66, 4765.01, 4765.04, 4765.49, and 4765.55 of the Revised Code to provide for the adoption of rules governing firefighter training.

SECTION 1.  That sections 505.38, 737.08, 737.22, 3737.66, 4765.01, 4765.04, 4765.49, and 4765.55 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 505.38.  (A) In each township or fire district that has a fire department, the head of the department shall be a fire chief, appointed by the board of township trustees, except that, in a joint fire district, the fire chief shall be appointed by the board of fire district trustees. Neither this section nor any other section of the Revised Code requires, or shall be construed to require, that the fire chief be a resident of the township or fire district.

The board shall provide for the employment of firefighters as it considers best and shall fix their compensation. No person shall be appointed as a permanent full-time paid member, whose duties include fire fighting, of the fire department of any township or fire district unless that person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program. Those appointees shall continue in office until removed from office as provided by sections 733.35 to 733.39 of the Revised Code. To initiate removal proceedings, and for that purpose, the board shall designate the fire chief or a private citizen to investigate the conduct and prepare the necessary charges in conformity with those sections.

In case of the removal of a fire chief or any member of the fire department of a township or fire district, an appeal may be had from the decision of the board to the court of common pleas of the county in which the township or fire district fire department is situated to determine the sufficiency of the cause of removal. The appeal from the findings of the board shall be taken within ten days.

No person who is appointed as a volunteer firefighter of the fire department of any township or fire district shall remain in that position unless either of the following applies:

(1) Within one year of the appointment, the person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 of the Revised Code or division (C)(1) or (2) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(2) The person began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a city or village prior to July 2, 1970, or as a volunteer firefighter with the fire department of a city, village, or other township or fire district prior to July 2, 1979, and receives a certificate issued under division (C)(3) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

No person shall receive an appointment under this section, in the case of a volunteer firefighter, unless the person has, not more than sixty days prior to receiving the appointment, passed a physical examination, given by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife, showing that the person meets the physical requirements necessary to perform the duties of the position to which the person is appointed as established by the board of township trustees having jurisdiction over the appointment. The appointing authority, prior to making an appointment, shall file with the Ohio police and fire pension fund or the local volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund board a copy of the report or findings of that licensed physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife. The professional fee for the physical examination shall be paid for by the board of township trustees.

(B) In each township not having a fire department, the board of township trustees shall appoint a fire prevention officer who shall exercise all of the duties of a fire chief except those involving the maintenance and operation of fire apparatus. The board may appoint one or more deputy fire prevention officers who shall exercise the duties assigned by the fire prevention officer.

The board may fix the compensation for the fire prevention officer and the fire prevention officer's deputies as it considers best. The board shall appoint each fire prevention officer and deputy for a one-year term. An appointee may be reappointed at the end of a term to another one-year term. Any appointee may be removed from office during a term as provided by sections 733.35 to 733.39 of the Revised Code. Section 505.45 of the Revised Code extends to those officers.

(C)(1) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any township that has a population of ten thousand or more persons residing within the township and outside of any municipal corporation, that has its own fire department employing ten or more full-time paid employees, and that has a civil service commission established under division (B) of section 124.40 of the Revised Code. The township shall comply with the procedures for the employment, promotion, and discharge of firefighters provided by Chapter 124. of the Revised Code, except as otherwise provided in divisions (C)(2) and (3) of this section.

(2) The board of township trustees of the township may appoint the fire chief, and any person so appointed shall be in the unclassified service under section 124.11 of the Revised Code and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. Neither this section nor any other section of the Revised Code requires, or shall be construed to require, that the fire chief be a resident of the township. A person who is appointed fire chief under these conditions and who is removed by the board or resigns from the position is entitled to return to the classified service in the township fire department in the position held just prior to the appointment as fire chief.

(3) The appointing authority of an urban township, as defined in section 504.01 of the Revised Code, may appoint to a vacant position any one of the three highest scorers on the eligible list for a promotional examination.

(4) The board of township trustees shall determine the number of personnel required and establish salary schedules and conditions of employment not in conflict with Chapter 124. of the Revised Code.

(5) No person shall receive an original appointment as a permanent full-time paid member of the fire department of the township described in this division unless the person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing the satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(6) Persons employed as firefighters in the township described in this division on the date a civil service commission is appointed pursuant to division (B) of section 124.40 of the Revised Code, without being required to pass a competitive examination or a firefighter training program, shall retain their employment and any rank previously granted them by action of the board of township trustees or otherwise, but those persons are eligible for promotion only by compliance with Chapter 124. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 737.08.  (A) The fire department of each city shall be composed of a chief of the fire department and other officers, firefighters, and employees provided for by ordinance. Neither this section nor any other section of the Revised Code requires, or shall be construed to require, that the fire chief be a resident of the city.

(B) No person shall be appointed as a permanent full-time paid member, whose duties include fire fighting, of the fire department of any city, unless either of the following applies:

(1) The person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 of the Revised Code or division (C)(1) or (2) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(2) The person began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a village or other city prior to July 2, 1970, and receives a fire training certificate issued under division (C)(3) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

(C) No person who is appointed as a volunteer firefighter of a city fire department shall remain in that position, unless either of the following applies:

(1) Within one year of the appointment, the person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 of the Revised Code or division (C)(1) or (2) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(2) The person began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a village or other city prior to July 2, 1970, or as a volunteer firefighter with the fire department of a township, fire district, village, or other city prior to July 2, 1979, and receives a fire training certificate issued under division (C)(3) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

(D) The director of public safety shall have the exclusive management and control of other surgeons, secretaries, clerks, and employees provided for by ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority of the city.

Sec. 737.22.  (A) Each village establishing a fire department shall have a fire chief as the department's head, appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the legislative authority of the village, who shall continue in office until removed from office as provided by sections 733.35 to 733.39 of the Revised Code. Neither this section nor any other section of the Revised Code requires, or shall be construed to require, that the fire chief be a resident of the village.

In each village not having a fire department, the mayor shall, with the advice and consent of the legislative authority of the village, appoint a fire prevention officer who shall exercise all of the duties of a fire chief except those involving the maintenance and operation of fire apparatus.

The legislative authority of the village may fix the compensation it considers best. The appointee shall continue in office until removed from office as provided by sections 733.35 to 733.39 of the Revised Code. Section 737.23 of the Revised Code shall extend to the officer.

(B) The legislative authority of the village may provide for the appointment of permanent full-time paid firefighters as it considers best and fix their compensation, or for the services of volunteer firefighters, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the legislative authority, and shall continue in office until removed from office.

(1) No person shall be appointed as a permanent full-time paid firefighter of a village fire department, unless either of the following applies:

(a) The person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 of the Revised Code or division (C)(1) or (2) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(b) The person began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a city or other village prior to July 2, 1970, and receives a fire training certificate issued under division (C)(3) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

(2) No person who is appointed as a volunteer firefighter of a village fire department shall remain in that position, unless either of the following applies:

(a) Within one year of the appointment, the person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(b) The person has served as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a city or other village prior to July 2, 1970, or as a volunteer firefighter with the fire department of a city, township, fire district, or other village prior to July 2, 1979, and receives a certificate issued under division (C)(3) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

(3) No person shall receive an appointment under this section unless the person has, not more than sixty days prior to receiving the appointment, passed a physical examination, given by a licensed physician, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife, showing that the person meets the physical requirements necessary to perform the duties of the position to which the person is to be appointed as established by the legislative authority of the village. The appointing authority shall, prior to making an appointment, file with the Ohio police and fire pension fund or the local volunteer fire fighters' dependents fund board a copy of the report or findings of that licensed physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife. The professional fee for the physical examination shall be paid for by the legislative authority of the village.

Sec. 3737.66.  (A) As used in this section, "firefighting agency" and "private fire company" have the same meanings as in section 9.60 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall claim to the public to be or act as a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, member of a fire department, chief of a fire department, or fire prevention officer unless at least one of the following applies:

(1) The the person is recognized as a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, member of a fire department, member of a private fire company, chief of a fire department, or fire prevention officer by the fire marshal or has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program and has been appointed by the governing board of a firefighting agency or, in the case of a volunteer firefighter, receives such a certificate within one year after appointment by the governing board of a firefighting agency;

(2) The person is a member of a private fire company and that company is providing fire protection in accordance with division (B), (C), or (D) of section 9.60 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4765.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "First responder" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as a first responder.

(B) "Emergency medical technician-basic" or "EMT-basic" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency medical technician-basic.

(C) "Emergency medical technician-intermediate" or "EMT-I" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency medical technician-intermediate.

(D) "Emergency medical technician-paramedic" or "paramedic" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code to practice as an emergency medical technician-paramedic.

(E) "Ambulance" means any motor vehicle that is used, or is intended to be used, for the purpose of responding to emergency medical situations, transporting emergency patients, and administering emergency medical service to patients before, during, or after transportation.

(F) "Cardiac monitoring" means a procedure used for the purpose of observing and documenting the rate and rhythm of a patient's heart by attaching electrical leads from an electrocardiograph monitor to certain points on the patient's body surface.

(G) "Emergency medical service" means any of the services described in sections 4765.35, 4765.37, 4765.38, and 4765.39 of the Revised Code that are performed by first responders, emergency medical technicians-basic, emergency medical technicians-intermediate, and paramedics. "Emergency medical service" includes such services performed before or during any transport of a patient, including transports between hospitals and transports to and from helicopters.

(H) "Emergency medical service organization" means a public or private organization using first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, or paramedics, or a combination of first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, and paramedics, to provide emergency medical services.

(I) "Physician" means an individual who holds a current, valid certificate issued under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code authorizing the practice of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(J) "Registered nurse" means an individual who holds a current, valid license issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code authorizing the practice of nursing as a registered nurse.

(K) "Volunteer" means a person who provides services either for no compensation or for compensation that does not exceed the actual expenses incurred in providing the services or in training to provide the services.

(L) "Emergency medical service personnel" means first responders, emergency medical service technicians-basic, emergency medical service technicians-intermediate, emergency medical service technicians-paramedic, and persons who provide medical direction to such persons.

(M) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(N) "Trauma" or "traumatic injury" means severe damage to or destruction of tissue that satisfies both of the following conditions:

(1) It creates a significant risk of any of the following:

(a) Loss of life;

(b) Loss of a limb;

(c) Significant, permanent disfigurement;

(d) Significant, permanent disability.

(2) It is caused by any of the following:

(a) Blunt or penetrating injury;

(b) Exposure to electromagnetic, chemical, or radioactive energy;

(c) Drowning, suffocation, or strangulation;

(d) A deficit or excess of heat.

(O) "Trauma victim" or "trauma patient" means a person who has sustained a traumatic injury.

(P) "Trauma care" means the assessment, diagnosis, transportation, treatment, or rehabilitation of a trauma victim by emergency medical service personnel or by a physician, nurse, physician assistant, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, chiropractor, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, or psychologist licensed to practice as such in this state or another jurisdiction.

(Q) "Trauma center" means all of the following:

(1) Any hospital that is verified by the American college of surgeons as an adult or pediatric trauma center;

(2) Any hospital that is operating as an adult or pediatric trauma center under provisional status pursuant to section 3727.101 of the Revised Code;

(3) Until December 31, 2004, any hospital in this state that is designated by the director of health as a level II pediatric trauma center under section 3727.081 of the Revised Code;

(4) Any hospital in another state that is licensed or designated under the laws of that state as capable of providing specialized trauma care appropriate to the medical needs of the trauma patient.

(R) "Pediatric" means involving a patient who is less than sixteen years of age.

(S) "Adult" means involving a patient who is not a pediatric patient.

(T) "Geriatric" means involving a patient who is at least seventy years old or exhibits significant anatomical or physiological characteristics associated with advanced aging.

(U) "Air medical organization" means an organization that provides emergency medical services, or transports emergency victims, by means of fixed or rotary wing aircraft.

(V) "Emergency care" and "emergency facility" have the same meanings as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(W) "Stabilize," except as it is used in division (B) of section 4765.35 of the Revised Code with respect to the manual stabilization of fractures, has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

(X) "Transfer" has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

(Y) "Firefighter" means any member of a fire department as defined in section 742.01 of the Revised Code.

(Z) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in section 146.01 of the Revised Code.

(AA) "Part-time paid firefighter" means a person who provides firefighting services on less than a full-time basis, is routinely scheduled to be present on site at a fire station or other designated location for purposes of responding to a fire or other emergency, and receives more than nominal compensation for the provision of firefighting services.

Sec. 4765.04.  (A) The firefighter and fire safety inspector training committee of the state board of emergency medical services is hereby created and shall consist of the members of the board who are chiefs of fire departments, and the members of the board who are emergency medical technicians-basic, emergency medical technicians-intermediate, and emergency medical technicians-paramedic appointed from among persons nominated by the Ohio association of professional fire fighters or the northern Ohio fire fighters and from among persons nominated by the Ohio state firefighter's association. Each member of the committee, except the chairperson, may designate a person with fire experience to serve in that member's place. The members of the committee or their designees shall select a chairperson from among the members or their designees.

The committee may conduct investigations in the course of discharging its duties under this chapter. In the course of an investigation, the committee may issue subpoenas. If a person subpoenaed fails to comply with the subpoena, the committee may authorize its chairperson to apply to the court of common pleas in the county where the person to be subpoenaed resides for an order compelling compliance in the same manner as compliance with a subpoena issued by the court is compelled.

(B) The trauma committee of the state board of emergency medical services is hereby created and shall consist of the following members appointed by the director of public safety:

(1) A physician who is certified by the American board of surgery or American osteopathic board of surgery and actively practices general trauma surgery, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the American college of surgeons, three persons nominated by the Ohio state medical association, and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(2) A physician who is certified by the American board of surgery or the American osteopathic board of surgery and actively practices orthopedic trauma surgery, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio orthopedic society and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(3) A physician who is certified by the American board of neurological surgeons or the American osteopathic board of surgery and actively practices neurosurgery on trauma victims, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio state neurological society and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(4) A physician who is certified by the American board of surgeons or American osteopathic board of surgeons and actively specializes in treating burn victims, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the American college of surgeons and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(5) A dentist who is certified by the American board of oral and maxillofacial surgery and actively practices oral and maxillofacial surgery, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio dental association;

(6) A physician who is certified by the American board of physical medicine and rehabilitation or American osteopathic board of rehabilitation medicine and actively provides rehabilitative care to trauma victims, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio society of physical medicine and rehabilitation and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(7) A physician who is certified by the American board of surgery or American osteopathic board of surgery with special qualifications in pediatric surgery and actively practices pediatric trauma surgery, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the American academy of pediatrics and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(8) A physician who is certified by the American board of emergency medicine or American osteopathic board of emergency medicine, actively practices emergency medicine, and is actively involved in emergency medical services, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the American college of emergency physicians and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(9) A physician who is certified by the American board of pediatrics, American osteopathic board of pediatrics, or American board of emergency medicine, is sub-boarded in pediatric emergency medicine, actively practices pediatric emergency medicine, and is actively involved in emergency medical services, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the American academy of pediatrics, three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the American college of emergency physicians, and three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association;

(10) A physician who is certified by the American board of surgery, American osteopathic board of surgery, or American board of emergency medicine and is the chief medical officer of an air medical organization, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio association of air medical services;

(11) A coroner or medical examiner appointed from among three people nominated by the Ohio state coroners' association;

(12) A registered nurse who actively practices trauma nursing at an adult or pediatric trauma center, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio association of trauma nurse coordinators;

(13) A registered nurse who actively practices emergency nursing and is actively involved in emergency medical services, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio chapter of the emergency nurses' association;

(14) The chief trauma registrar of an adult or pediatric trauma center, appointed from among three persons nominated by the alliance of Ohio trauma registrars;

(15) The administrator of an adult or pediatric trauma center, appointed from among three persons nominated by OHA: the association for hospitals and health systems, three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association, three persons nominated by the association of Ohio children's hospitals, and three persons nominated by the health forum of Ohio;

(16) The administrator of a hospital that is not a trauma center and actively provides emergency care to adult or pediatric trauma patients, appointed from among three persons nominated by OHA: the association for hospitals and health systems, three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association, three persons nominated by the association of Ohio children's hospitals, and three persons nominated by the health forum of Ohio;

(17) The operator of an ambulance company that actively provides trauma care to emergency patients, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio ambulance association;

(18) The chief of a fire department that actively provides trauma care to emergency patients, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio fire chiefs' association;

(19) An EMT or paramedic who is certified under this chapter and actively provides trauma care to emergency patients, appointed from among three persons nominated by the Ohio association of professional firefighters, three persons nominated by the northern Ohio fire fighters, three persons nominated by the Ohio state firefighters' association, and three persons nominated by the Ohio association of emergency medical services;

(20) A person who actively advocates for trauma victims, appointed from three persons nominated by the Ohio brain injury association and three persons nominated by the governor's council on people with disabilities;

(21) A physician or nurse who has substantial administrative responsibility for trauma care provided in or by an adult or pediatric trauma center, appointed from among three persons nominated by OHA: the association for hospitals and health systems, three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association, three persons nominated by the association of Ohio children's hospitals, and three persons nominated by the health forum of Ohio;

(22) Three representatives of hospitals that are not trauma centers and actively provide emergency care to trauma patients, appointed from among three persons nominated by OHA: the association for hospitals and health systems, three persons nominated by the Ohio osteopathic association, three persons nominated by the association of Ohio children's hospitals, and three persons nominated by the health forum of Ohio. The representatives may be hospital administrators, physicians, nurses, or other clinical professionals.

Members of the committee shall have substantial experience in the categories they represent, shall be residents of this state, and may be members of the state board of emergency medical services. In appointing members of the committee, the director shall attempt to include members representing urban and rural areas, various geographical areas of the state, and various schools of training. The director shall not appoint to the committee more than one member who is employed by or practices at the same hospital, health system, or emergency medical service organization.

The director may refuse to appoint any of the persons nominated by an organization or organizations under this division. In that event, the organization or organizations shall continue to nominate the required number of persons until the director appoints to the committee one or more of the persons nominated by the organization or organizations.

Initial appointments to the committee shall be made by the director not later than ninety days after November 3, 2000. Members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the director, except that any member of the committee who ceases to be qualified for the position to which the member was appointed shall cease to be a member of the committee. Vacancies on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.

The members of the committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out duties as members of the committee.

The committee shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members. A majority of all members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. No action shall be taken without the concurrence of a majority of all members of the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the chair, upon written request of five members of the committee, and at the direction of the state board of emergency medical services. The committee shall not meet at times or locations that conflict with meetings of the board. The executive director and medical director of the state board of emergency medical services may participate in any meeting of the committee and shall do so at the request of the committee.

The committee shall advise and assist the state board of emergency medical services in matters related to adult and pediatric trauma care and the establishment and operation of the state trauma registry. In matters relating to the state trauma registry, the board and the committee shall consult with trauma registrars from adult and pediatric trauma centers in the state. The committee may appoint a subcommittee to advise and assist with the trauma registry. The subcommittee may include persons with expertise relevant to the trauma registry who are not members of the board or committee.

(C) The state board of emergency medical services may appoint other committees and subcommittees as it considers necessary.

(D) The state board of emergency medical services, and any of its committees or subcommittees, may request assistance from any state agency. The board and its committees and subcommittees may permit persons who are not members of those bodies to participate in deliberations of those bodies, but no person who is not a member of the board shall vote on the board and no person who is not a member of a committee created under division (A) or (B) of this section shall vote on that committee.

(E) Sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code do not apply to the committees established under division (A) or (B) of this section.

Sec. 4765.49.  (A) A first responder, emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the individual's administration of emergency medical services, unless the services are administered in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. A physician or registered nurse designated by a physician, who is advising or assisting in the emergency medical services by means of any communication device or telemetering system, is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the individual's advisory communication or assistance, unless the advisory communication or assistance is provided in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. Medical directors and members of cooperating physician advisory boards of emergency medical service organizations are not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from their acts or omissions in the performance of their duties, unless the act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(B) A political subdivision, joint ambulance district, joint emergency medical services district, or other public agency, and any officer or employee of a public agency or of a private organization operating under contract or in joint agreement with one or more political subdivisions, that provides emergency medical services, or that enters into a joint agreement or a contract with the state, any political subdivision, joint ambulance district, or joint emergency medical services district for the provision of emergency medical services, is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property arising out of any actions taken by a first responder, EMT-basic, EMT-I, or paramedic working under the officer's or employee's jurisdiction, or for injury, death, or loss to person or property arising out of any actions of licensed medical personnel advising or assisting the first responder, EMT-basic, EMT-I, or paramedic, unless the services are provided in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(C) A student who is enrolled in an emergency medical services training program accredited under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code or an emergency medical services continuing education program approved under that section is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from either of the following:

(1) The student's administration of emergency medical services or patient care or treatment, if the services, care, or treatment is administered while the student is under the direct supervision and in the immediate presence of an EMT-basic, EMT-I, paramedic, registered nurse, or physician and while the student is receiving clinical training that is required by the program, unless the services, care, or treatment is provided in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct;

(2) The student's training as an ambulance driver, unless the driving is done in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(D) An EMT-basic, EMT-I, paramedic, or other operator, who holds a valid commercial driver's license issued pursuant to Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code or driver's license issued pursuant to Chapter 4507. of the Revised Code and who is employed by an emergency medical service organization that is not owned or operated by a political subdivision as defined in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code, is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the operation of an ambulance by the EMT-basic, EMT-I, paramedic, or other operator while responding to or completing a call for emergency medical services, unless the operation constitutes willful or wanton misconduct or does not comply with the precautions of section 4511.03 of the Revised Code. An emergency medical service organization is not liable in damages in a civil action for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the operation of an ambulance by its employee or agent, if this division grants the employee or agent immunity from civil liability for the injury, death, or loss.

(E) An employee or agent of an emergency medical service organization who receives requests for emergency medical services that are directed to the organization, dispatches first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, or paramedics in response to those requests, communicates those requests to those employees or agents of the organization who are authorized to dispatch first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, or paramedics, or performs any combination of these functions for the organization, is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the individual's acts or omissions in the performance of those duties for the organization, unless an act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(F) A person who is performing the functions of a first responder, EMT-basic, EMT-I, or paramedic under the authority of the laws of a state that borders this state and who provides emergency medical services to or transportation of a patient in this state is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the person's administration of emergency medical services, unless the services are administered in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. A physician or registered nurse designated by a physician, who is licensed to practice in the adjoining state and who is advising or assisting in the emergency medical services by means of any communication device or telemetering system is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the person's advisory communication or assistance, unless the advisory communication or assistance is provided in a manner that constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(G) A person certified under section 4765.23 of the Revised Code to teach in an emergency medical services training program or emergency medical services continuing education program, and a person who teaches at the Ohio fire academy established under section 3737.33 of the Revised Code or in a fire service training program described in division (B)(A) of section 4765.55 of the Revised Code, is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the person's acts or omissions in the performance of the person's duties, unless an act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(H) In the accreditation of emergency medical services training programs or approval of emergency medical services continuing education programs, the state board of emergency medical services and any person or entity authorized by the board to evaluate applications for accreditation or approval are not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from their acts or omissions in the performance of their duties, unless an act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

(I) A person authorized by an emergency medical service organization to review the performance of first responders, EMTs-basic, EMTs-I, and paramedics or to administer quality assurance programs is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property resulting from the person's acts or omissions in the performance of the person's duties, unless an act or omission constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.

Sec. 4765.55.  (A) This section does not apply to a cooperative education school district.

(B) The executive director of the state board of emergency medical services shall, with the advice and counsel of the firefighter and fire safety inspector training committee of the state board of emergency medical services, shall assist in the establishment and maintenance by any state agency, or any county, township, city, village, school district, or educational service center of a fire service training program for the training of all paid and persons in positions of any fire training certification level approved by the executive director, including full-time paid firefighters, part-time paid firefighters, volunteer firefighters and, fire safety inspectors in this state. The executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee, shall adopt standards rules to regulate such those firefighter and fire safety inspector training programs, and other training programs approved by the executive director. The standards rules may include, but need not be limited to, provisions for minimum courses of study training curriculum, certification examinations, training schedules, minimum hours of instruction, attendance requirements, required equipment and facilities, qualifications of instructors, basic physical requirements, and methods of training for all persons in positions of any fire training certification level approved by the executive director, including full-time paid firefighters, part-time paid firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and fire safety inspectors, and training schedules. The standards rules adopted to regulate training programs for volunteer firefighters shall not require more than thirty-six hours of training. The

The executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee, shall provide for the classification and chartering of such fire service training programs in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section, and may revoke take action against any charter chartered training program or applicant, in accordance with rules adopted under divisions (B)(4) and (5) of this section, for failure to meet standards set by the adopted rules.

(C)(B) The executive director, with the advice and counsel of the firefighter and fire safety inspector training committee of the state board of emergency medical services, shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish all of the following:

(1) Requirements for, and procedures for chartering, the training programs regulated by this section;

(2) Requirements for, and requirements and procedures for obtaining and renewing, an instructor certificate to teach the training programs and continuing education classes regulated by this section;

(3) Requirements for, and requirements and procedures for obtaining and renewing, any of the fire training certificates regulated by this section;

(4) Grounds and procedures for suspending, revoking, restricting, or refusing to issue or renew any of the certificates or charters regulated by this section, which grounds shall be limited to one of the following:

(a) Failure to satisfy the education or training requirements of this section;

(b) Conviction of a felony offense;

(c) Conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

(d) Conviction of a misdemeanor committed in the course of practice;

(e) In the case of a chartered training program or applicant, failure to meet standards set by the rules adopted under this division.

(5) Grounds and procedures for imposing and collecting fines, not to exceed one thousand dollars, in relation to actions taken under division (B)(4) of this section against persons holding certificates and charters regulated by this section, the fines to be deposited into the trauma and emergency medical services fund established under section 4513.263 of the Revised Code;

(6) Continuing education requirements for certificate holders, including a requirement that credit shall be granted for in-service training programs conducted by local entities;

(7) Procedures for considering the granting of an extension or exemption of fire service continuing education requirements;

(8) Certification cycles for which the certificates and charters regulated by this section are valid.

(C) The executive director, with the advice and counsel of the firefighter and fire safety inspector training committee of the state board of emergency medical services, shall issue or renew an instructor certificate to teach the training programs and continuing education classes regulated by this section to any applicant that the executive director determines meets the qualifications established in rules adopted under division (B) of this section, and may take disciplinary action against an instructor certificate holder or applicant in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section. The executive director, with the advice and counsel of the committee, shall charter or renew the charter of any training program that the executive director determines meets the qualifications established in rules adopted under division (B) of this section, and may take disciplinary action against the holder of a charter in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section.

(D) The executive director shall issue or renew a fire training certificate for a firefighter, a fire safety inspector, or another position of any fire training certification level approved by the executive director, to any applicant that the executive director determines meets the qualifications established in rules adopted under division (B) of this section and may take disciplinary actions against a certificate holder or applicant in accordance with rules adopted under division (B) of this section.

(E) Certificates issued under this division section shall be on a form prescribed by the executive director, with the advice and counsel of the firefighter and fire safety inspector training committee of the state board of emergency medical services.

(1) The executive director shall issue a certificate to each person satisfactorily completing a chartered training program.

(2)(F)(1) The executive director, with the committee's advice and counsel of the firefighter and fire safety inspector training committee of the state board of emergency medical services, shall establish criteria for evaluating the standards maintained by other states and the branches of the United States military for firefighter, fire safety inspector, and fire instructor training programs, and other training programs recognized by the executive director, to determine whether the standards are equivalent to those established under this section and shall establish requirements and procedures for issuing a certificate to each person who presents proof to the executive director of having satisfactorily completed a training program that meets those standards.

(3)(2) The executive director, with the committee's advice and counsel, shall establish adopt rules establishing requirements and procedures for issuing a fire training certificate in lieu of completing a chartered firefighter training program to any person requesting a certificate who began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a city or village prior to July 2, 1970, or as a volunteer firefighter with the fire department of a township, fire district, city, or village prior to July 2, 1979.

(D)(G) Nothing in this section invalidates any other section of the Revised Code relating to the fire training academy. Section 4765.11 of the Revised Code does not affect any powers and duties granted to the executive director under this section.

SECTION 2.  That existing sections 505.38, 737.08, 737.22, 3737.66, 4765.01, 4765.04, 4765.49, and 4765.55 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. The Executive Director of the State Board of Emergency Medical Services shall adopt the rules required by this act within twelve months after the act's effective date. The Executive Director shall phase in the renewal of current certificates over a twelve-month period following the rules' effective date in accordance with a schedule determined by the Executive Director.

SECTION 4.  Section 505.38 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. H.B. 515 and Sub. S.B. 245 of the 124th General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.