ENTITLED An Act to update terminology related to ambulance operators.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota:

Section 1. That § 32-17-42 be AMENDED:

32-17-42. A motor vehicle may be equipped with blue lights if it is:

(1) Authorized by the Department of Transportation;

(2) A tow truck or wrecker as defined in § 32-17-10; or

(3) Operated by:

(a) A member of a fire department or search and rescue unit; or

(b) An ambulance operator certified in accordance with chapter 36-4B.

This provision does not relieve the driver of the vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street, nor does it protect the driver from the consequence of a reckless disregard for the safety of others.

No person may use a blue light unless the person is authorized by this chapter and is operating a Department of Transportation vehicle or a county highway vehicle in performance of winter highway maintenance duties, or the person is actually en route to the scene of a fire or other emergency requiring the person's services and the person has been authorized in writing to use a blue light. Authorization for use of a blue light in accordance with this chapter may be given by the Department of Transportation, the highway patrol, a county highway superintendent, the chief of a fire department, the coordinator of a search and rescue unit, or the director of an ambulance service, and only to members of the department or service who are in good standing.

The use of a blue light in violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Section 2. That § 32-31-4 be AMENDED:

32-31-4. The speed limits set forth in §§ 32-25-1.1 to 32-25-17, inclusive, do not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency call if the driver sounds an audible siren or air horn, or both, or displays flashing, oscillating, or rotating beams of red light, or combinations of red, blue, or white light, visible one hundred eighty degrees to the front of the vehicle. The lights must be capable of warning the public of the presence of an emergency vehicle under normal atmospheric conditions.

The speed limits set forth in §§ 32-25-1.1 to 32-25-17, inclusive, do not apply to authorized emergency vehicles operated by law enforcement officers who are measuring the speed of other vehicles by use of the emergency vehicle speedometer.

An ambulance operator certified pursuant to chapter 36-4B may operate an ambulance in excess of the speed limit without audible signals while operating outside the city limits of a municipality.

Section 3. That § 34-11-12 be AMENDED:

34-11-12. Each ambulance run must include:

(1) One emergency medical technician or one advanced life support personnel, licensed pursuant to chapter 36-4B; and

(2) One ambulance operator certified in accordance with chapter 36-4B.

Section 4. That § 34-20A-100 be AMENDED:

34-20A-100. For the purposes of §§ 34-20A-98 to 34-20A-103, inclusive, "first responder" means:

(1) A law enforcement officer as defined by § 22-1-2;

(2) An individual responding to an emergency call as part of an ambulance service licensed pursuant to chapter 34-11; or

(3) A firefighter.

Section 5. That § 36-4B-1 be AMENDED:

36-4B-1. Terms used in this chapter mean:

(1) "Advanced life support," a level of emergency care consisting of basic life support procedures and definitive therapy;

(2) "Advanced life support personnel," a person licensed by the board as:

(a) An emergency medical technician-intermediate/85;

(b) An emergency medical technician-intermediate/99;

(c) An advanced emergency medical technician; or

(d) A paramedic;

(3) "Basic life support personnel," a person:

(a) Certified by the board as an ambulance operator;

(b) Licensed by the board as an emergency medical responder; or

(c) Licensed by the board as an emergency medical technician;

(4) "Board," the State Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners;

(5) "Direct control," real-time communications during an ambulance run between emergency medical services personnel and a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, licensed in this state;

(6) "Emergency medical services," health care provided to a patient by emergency medical services personnel;

(7) "Emergency medical services personnel," a person licensed by the board as:

(a) An emergency medical responder;

(b) An emergency medical technician;

(c) An emergency medical technician-intermediate/85;

(d) An emergency medical technician-intermediate/99;

(e) An advanced emergency medical technician; or

(f) A paramedic; and

(8) "Indirect control," the establishment and implementation of guidelines, policies, and protocols approved by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, licensed in this state.

Section 6. That § 36-4B-35 be AMENDED:

36-4B-35. The board shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, to:

(1) Provide for an application form and process for the licensure of emergency medical services personnel and the certification of ambulance operators;

(2) Set forth criteria for educational and training program approval, including instructor qualifications, student acceptance, and clinical requirements;

(3) Establish the educational and training requirements, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians requirements, for applicants seeking licensure as emergency medical services personnel;

(4) Provide for the renewal of ambulance operator certification and continuing education requirements;

(5) Establish procedures for the administration of the emergency medical services personnel program;

(6) Regulate the professional conduct of emergency medical services personnel and ambulance operators;

(7) Establish the educational and training requirements, and conditions for issuance of a critical care endorsement, as provided for in § 36-4B-18.1;

(8) Establish the:

(a) Educational and training requirements and conditions for issuance of a community paramedic endorsement; and

(b) Practice protocols and supervisory requirements for a person with a community paramedic endorsement; and

(9) Establish the allowable skills and techniques performed by emergency medical services personnel under direct and indirect control.

Section 7. That § 36-4B-41 be AMENDED:

36-4B-41. The board may issue a certification as an ambulance operator to a person who:

(1) Completes an emergency care course approved by the board; and

(2) Applies on a form prescribed by the board.

An Act to update terminology related to ambulance operators.

I certify that the attached Act originated in the: Senate as Bill No. 77 Secretary of the Senate President of the Senate Attest: Secretary of the Senate Speaker of the House Attest: Chief Clerk Senate Bill No. 77 File No. ____ Chapter No. ______

Received at this Executive Office this _____ day of _____________, 2025 at ____________M. By for the Governor The attached Act is hereby approved this ________ day of ______________, A.D., 2025 Governor STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, ss. Office of the Secretary of State Filed ____________, 2025 at _________ o'clock __M. Secretary of State By Asst. Secretary of State