HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 6934 i,
ORDINANCE NO. G9,3i
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS (1964) , AS AMENDED, WHICH
CHAPTER REGULATES THE OPERATION OF AMBULANCES, BY
DELETING, ADDING AND AMENDING CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
WITHIN SECTION 6-1 THEREOF} BY AMENDING SECTIONS 6-2,
6-3, 6-5, 6-7, 6-9 AND 6-10 THEREOFI, SUCH SECTIONS
CONCERNING THE CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND
NECESSITY REQUIRED FOR AMBULANCE OPERATION; BY AMEND-
ING SECTION 6-11 THEREOF, SUCH SECTION CONCERNING
THAT PERMIT REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION OF THE AMBU-
LANCE VEHICLE; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-14 AND SECTION
6-15 THEREOF, SUCH SECTIONS CONCERNING THE CENTRAL
PLACE OF BUSINESS AND BUSINESS RECORDS REQUIRED; BY
AMENDING THOSE AMBULANCE SERVICE RATES ESTABLISHED
BY SECTION 6-17 THEREOF; BY DELETING THOSE REGULA-
TIONS CONCERNING MEDI-COACHES HERETOFORE ESTABLISHED
BY SECTION 6-19 THEREOF; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-20
THEREOF AND THEREBY PROVIDING THAT THE HEALTH OFFI-
CER SHALL ESTABLISH AND ASCERTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH
THOSE CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO AMBULANCE OPERATION
UPON THE PUBLIC STREETS; BY AMENDING SECTION 6-21
AND SECTION 6-22 THEREOF, SUCH SECTIONS CONCERNING
THE REQUIRED REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF AM-
BULANCE DRIVERS AND ATTENDANTS; BY AMENDING SECTION
6-26 THEREOF AND THEREBY ESTABLISHING THE AUTHORITY
OF THE HEALTH OFFICER TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE DRIVER
AND/OR ATTENDANT REGISTRATION; BY AMENDING THE AMBU-
LANCE RADIO DISPATCH PROCEDURE CONTAINED WITHIN SEC-
TION 6-27 THEREOF; BY AMENDING THE DEAD-ON-ARRIVAL
PROCEDURE CONTAINED WITHIN SECTION 6-30 THEREOF; BY
REPEALING SECTION 6-32 THEREOF, SUCH SECTION HAVING
CONCERNED CERTAIN INSPECTIONS AND THE PROCEDURE OF
REMOVAL FROM THE ROTATION LIST; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE
CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDINANCES; REPEALING ALL ORDI-
NANCES AND PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT
WORTH IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFEC-
TIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
WORTH, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That Section 6-1 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same
is hereby amended to read as follows:
"For the purpose of this chapter, the follow-
ing words and phrases shall have the meanings
respectively ascribed to them by this section:
" (a) Ambulance. Any motor vehicle constructed
reconstructed, arranged, equipped or used
for the purpose of transporting ill, sick
or injured persons. For the purpose of
this chapter, the term 'ambulance' shall
include only 'emergency ambulance' and/or
'invalid coach, ' as hereinafter defined.
" (b) Ambulance call. The act of proceeding with
an ambulance for the purpose of transport-
ing any patient.
" (c) Attendant. Any person who has the duty of
performing or assisting in the performance
of an ambulance call and is certified as an
Emergency Medical Technician, as hereinafter
provided.
" (d) Certificate. A certificate of public con-
venience and necessity.
" (e) City. All areas within the corporate lim-
its of the City of Fort Worth, Texas.
" (f) City council. The Fort Worth City Council.
" (g) Code I calls. The nonemergency type of calls,
such as slow run, sick or convalescent call.
No red lights or siren are used.
" (h) Code III calls. The term 'Code III Calls'
shall mean the emergency type call and shall
include all calls involving serious injuries
or illnesses which could result in loss of
life or permanent injury. Red lights and
siren are used.
"(i) Driver. Every individual who drives or at-
tempts to drive any ambulance as herein de-
fined.
" (j) Emergency ambulance. Any ambulance designed
for emergency care which provides a driver
compartment and a patient compartment. Such
patient compartment shall accommodate two (2)
attendants and one (1) or more litter patients
so positioned that at least one patient can be
given intensive, life-support care during
transit. Such ambulance shall carry equipment
and supplies for optimal emergency care at the
scene as well as during transit, for two-way
radio communication, for safeguarding personnel
and patients under hazardous conditions and for
light rescue procedures; and shall be designed
and constructed to afford maximum safety and
comfort and to avoid aggravation of the pa-
tient's condition, exposure to complications,
and threat to survival. The patient compart-
ment of such ambulance shall have not less than
fifty-four (54) inches of headroom, measured
from the floorboard the cot rests upon to the
ceiling, with a minimum of twenty-five (25)
inches of unencumbered floor space beside the
cot. Such compartment shall be not less than
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one hundred sixteen (116) inches in length
and seventy-six (76) inches in width. Such
ambulance shall be equipped with warning
devices and signal devices, in addition to
the stock organic vehicle horn.
" (k) Health department. The Health Department
of the City of Fort Worth, Texas.
" (1) Health officer. The director of the Health
Department of the City or his duly author-
ized representative.
" (m) Invalid coach. Any ambulance which provides
space for a driver, one (1) attendant and pro-
vides supplies for optimal patient care dur-
ing transport. Such ambulance shall be de-
signed and constructed to afford maximum safety
and comfort, to avoid aggravation of the pa-
tient's condition, and exposure to complica-
tions and threat to survival. The patient sec-
tion of such ambulance shall have not less than
forty (40) inches of headroom, measured from
the floorboard upon which the cot rests twelve
(12) inches from each side of the center line
of the vehicle. Such section shall be not less
than eighty-four (84) inches in length and shall
have not less than forty-eight (48) inches of
usable floor width. Such ambulance shall be
equipped with neither warning nor signal devices,
except the stock organic vehicle horn. The term
'invalid coach' includes 'transfer vehicle. '
" (n) License officer. The Health Officer of the
City or his duly authorized representative.
" (o) Operator. Any person engaged in business as the
owner, manager or proprietor of a company, firm
or organization providing ambulance service.
" (p) Permit. The written authorization issued by
the license officer for a designated and in-
spected vehicle to be operated upon the City
streets.
" (q) Person. Any individual, firm, association,
partnership, corporation or other group or com-
bination of individuals.
" (r) Police chief. The chief of police of the City
or his duly authorized representative.
"(s) Police department. The Police Department of
the City.
" (t) Victim of violent acts. Any ill, sick or in-
jured person who has been or who is believed
to have been shot, stabbed, poisoned, blud-
geoned, beaten or otherwise physically as-
saulted."
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SECTION 2.
That Section 6-2 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same
is hereby amended to read as follows:
"No person shall operate an ambulance on any
street of the city without first having obtained
from the city council a certificate declaring that
the public convenience and necessity require such
an operation; provided, however, that no such cer-
tificate shall be required for any person operat-
ing an ambulance or other vehicle who:
" (a) Renders assistance during any catastrophe
or major emergency when the ambulances
authorized to operate in Fort Worth by
certificate are insufficient in number
or for any other reason inadequate; or
" (b) Operates from a location outside the city
and transports any patient from a point
of origin outside the city to destination
inside the city; or
" (c) Operates from a location outside the city
and transports any patient from a point
of origin within the city to destination
outside the city.
SECTION 3.
That the first paragraph of Section 6-3 of Chapter 6 of
the Code of the City of Fort worth, Texas (1964) , as amended
be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Applications for a certificate of public con-
venience and necessity for the operation of an ambu-
lance within the city shall be in writing, signed
and sworn to by the applicant, and shall be filed
with the license officer. The application shall be
on a form prescribed by the license officer and shall
contain at least the following: The name and address
of the applicant; the address and phone number of the
central place of business; the address or addresses
from which the service will operate; the trade name
under which the applicant does or proposes to do
business; if the applicant is an individual, the
name, age and address of the applicant and the
length of time the applicant has resided in the
city; or, if a partnership or association, the busi-
ness name thereof and the name, age and address of
each partner, and the length of time each partner
has resided in the city; or, if a corporation, the
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the names and addresses of all officers and direc-
tors of such corporation; the number of vehicles
the applicant desires to operate; the class, size,
design and color scheme of each vehicle; whether
or not the applicant has been finally convicted of
any felony or other offense involving moral turpi-
tude, and whether or not the applicant has any
claims or judgments against him for damages re-
sulting from the negligent operation of an ambu-
lance; the financial ability and responsibility of
the applicant; the nature and character of the
service that the applicant proposes to render; the
facts showing the demand for such service; the ex-
perience that the applicant has had in rendering
such service and the period of time that he has
rendered it in the city; and whether or not the ap-
plicant has a permit from the state board of health."
SECTION 4.
That the first principle paragraph of Section 6-5 of
Chapter 6 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) ,
as amended, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Upon receipt of such written report, the council
shall schedule a public hearing on the application.
Notice of such public hearing by the council shall be
given to the applicant and all certificate holders af-
fected thereby by depositing such written notice in
the United States Postal Service in an envelope, prop-
erly addressed to each such person at his respective
address on file with the license officer and bearing
sufficient postage, at least ten (10) days prior to
such public hearing. Such notice shall also be pub-
lished once in the official newspaper of the city at
least ten (10) days prior to the date set for such
hearing. The purpose of such public hearing shall be
to determine, among other things, the following:"
SECTION 5.
That Subparagraph (h) of the first paragraph of Section
6-5 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas
(1964) , as amended, be, and the same is hereby amended to
read as follows:
" (h) Whether or not those vehicles proposed to
be used as ambulances qualify as emergency
ambulances or as invalid coaches, as same
are herein defined."
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SECTION 6.
That Section 6-7 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City of
Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"The license officer, upon receiving direc-
tions from the city council to issue a certificate
to an applicant for the operation of ambulances
hereunder, shall issue such certificate to the ap-
plicant after payment by the applicant of the an-
nual certificate fee hereinafter prescribed. A
copy of every certificate shall be filed with the
license officer."
SECTION 7.
That Subsection (b) of Section 6-9 of Chapter 6 of the
Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be,
and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
" (b) The license officer is hereby authorized
and empowered to revoke, alter or suspend
any certificate issued hereunder upon his
finding that any operator has willfully
violated any of the provisions of this
chapter; such action by the license offi-
cer shall be effective for not more than
fifteen (15) days, except as otherwise
herein provided, and shall take effect up-
on delivery of written notice thereof to
the operator; such delivery may be made
in person to the operator or to any of
his agents or employees, or by depositing
a written notice in the United States
Postal Service in an envelope properly
addressed to the operator at his address
on file with the license officer and bear-
ing sufficient postage; provided, however,
that the operator shall have the right to
appeal to the city council from any such
action of the license officer by delivering
written notice of such appeal to the city
secretary not more than five (5) days after
the effective date of the action appealed
from. In the event the operator shall fail
to deliver such notice of appeal to the city
secretary within the time prescribed, the
action of the license officer in revoking,
altering or suspending the certificate shall
be final. If the operator timely delivers
the notice of appeal to the city secretary,
the city council shall hear the appeal in a
public meeting not more than ten (10) days
after the date of filing the notice of ap-
peal with the city secretary."
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SECTION B.
That the last paragraph of Section 6-10 of Chapter 6
of the Code of the City of Port Worth, Texas (1964) , as
amended, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as fol-
lows:
"The amount of the certificate fee herein pre-
scribed shall not be prorated for fractional parts
of a calendar year, nor shall it relieve the oper-
ator from the necessity of obtaining any state or
county occupation license or any other requirement
established by statute. Certificates of public con-
venience and necessity issued hereunder shall not
be transferable nor assignable without the consent
of the city council. Termination or transfer of
ownership of such ambulance business shall auto-
matically void such certificate."
SECTION 9.
That Section 6-11 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"After the operator shall have secured a cer-
tificate hereunder, no vehicle shall be operated
under authority of such certificate until the op-
erator has made application to the license officer
for and has been issued a permit for each motor
vehicle to be operated under such certificate.
Every application for a permit shall be in writing,
verified by the operator, and shall show the num-
ber of the certificate and the make, type, year of•
manufacture, motor number, serial number, passen-
ger capacity and exterior color for each motor vehi-
cle for which a permit is desired. In the event
the license officer finds that each vehicle ful-
fills and complies with the minimum requirements
as specified by the health officer, that each vehi-
cle is in satisfactory and safe mechanical condi-
tion, that such vehicle is properly identified
with the operator's name, and that the color of
the vehicle is the same as authorized by the city
council, he shall then issue to the operator a
permit for each vehicle upon the payment of an
annual permit fee for each vehicle authorized."
SECTION 10.
That Section 6-14 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same
is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Each operator shall maintain a central place
of business with at least one properly listed
telephone for receiving all calls for ambulance
service and where all business records and daily
logs herein required shall be maintained and avail-
able for inspection or audit at all times. Each
operator shall have a person available at all times
to answer promptly all calls for service, to dis-
patch promptly all ambulances, and to be generally
responsible for its conduct of such ambulance op-
erations. Prior to changing any address or addresses
from which the operator proposes to operate ambulance
service, each such operator shall make written re-
quest to and shall receive written authorization
from the license officer to continue such service."
SECTION 11.
That Section 6-15 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"Each certificate holder shall maintain a daily
log upon which shall be recorded the date, time of
service request, time of dispatch, time of arrival
upon the scene, time of arrival at ultimate desti-
nation, patient's name and address and charges for
each trip. Each such operator shall retain and pre-
serve all daily logs for at least six (6) months,
and such logs shall be available for inspection by
the city council or its duly authorized representa-
tives upon request. Each certificate holder here-
under shall keep accurate records of the receipts
and expenses from operations and such other operat-
ing information as may be required by the council.
Each such operator shall maintain such records at
a place readily accessible for examination by the
license officer, the city council or their duly au-
thorized representatives."
SECTION 12.
That Section 6-17 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"No operator shall exceed the maximum rates
established by the following schedule:
" (a) $25.00 base fee for transporting one (1)
patient; an additional $20.00 for trans-
porting a second (2nd) patient; an addi-
tional $15.00 for each additional patient;
" (b) $5.00 for the administration of oxygen to
each patient;
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"(c) $5.00 per one-half hour charge for wait-
ing in excess of fifteen (15) minutes;
" (d) $15.00 charge for each unfounded request
for service;
" (e) $35.00 maximum charge for transporting
one (1) patient within the limits of the
city.
"Total charges per service shall be equally di-
vided among those patients transported simultaneously.
"The collection of such charges shall be the sole
responsibility of the operator."
SECTION 13.
That Subparagraph (b) of Section 6-19 of Chapter 6 of
the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended,
be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
" (b) Clean and sanitary bed linen shall be
provided for each patient carried and
shall be changed after the discharge
of a patient and before any subsequent
patient is picked up."
SECTION 14.
That Section 6-20 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"No ambulance shall be operated upon the pub-
lic streets of the city unless all of the following
conditions be met:
" (a) All ambulances shall be maintained in
good operating condition, and all equip-
ment therein shall be capable of render-
ing satisfactory service. No ambulance
shall be driven or operated upon any
street in the city unless the same is
in safe condition and free from mechan-
ical defects, with the brakes in good
condition.
" (b) All motor vehicles used for the purpose
of providing ambulance service hereunder
shall be designed and constructed to
transport ill, sick or injured persons
in comfort and safety, and shall be main-
tained in clean, sanitary and first-class
mechanical condition at all times.
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" (c) The health officer shall cause an inspec-
tion to be made of all ambulances in the
city at least every six (6) months and as
often as he deems it appropriate, and if
an ambulance shall be found unfit or un-
safe for operation, notice shall be given
to the owner and operator thereof, and
such ambulance shall not be operated
thereafter until the same has been put
in a safe and fit condition as determined
by the health officer.
" (d) The health officer shall be authorized and
directed, after public notice and oppor-
tunity for public hearings, to establish
ambulance vehicle standards pertaining to
construction, equipment and safety features
and facilities.
" (e) The health officer shall be authorized and
directed, after public notice and oppor-
tunity for public hearings, to establish
ambulance vehicle standards pertaining to
equipment for the administration of pa-
tient care.
" (f) The health officer shall be responsible for
ascertaining the sanitation and proper equip-
ment of ambulances prior to the issuance of
any permit for any such ambulance."
SECTION 15.
That Section 6-21 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964), as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"No person shall drive, manage or control any
ambulance on any public street or thoroughfare in
the city without having been examined and regis-
tered by the license officer of the city as a
driver, nor shall any person attend or render
first aid to any passenger in any such ambulance
without having been examined and registered by
the license officer of the city as an attendant.
Only after ascertaining that such person has
demonstrated that degree of proficiency in pa-
tient care, as required by the health officer,
shall the license officer issue to any such per-
son so examined and so registered as a driver or
attendant a registration card certifying the same."
SECTION 16.
That Section 6-22 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Each applicant for registration as an ambulance
driver or attendant in the city shall be able to
speak, read and write the English language. Each
applicant shall receive a physical examination by
the health officer to determine that he is of sound
physique, possesses good eyesight and hearing, is
not subject to epilepsy, vertigo, heart trouble or
infirmity of body or mind and is not addicted to the
use of drugs or intoxicating liquors so as to render
him unfit to perform the duties of the driver or at-
tendant. Such examination shall include a blood
test and a chest x-ray. Each applicant shall fur-
nish satisfactory proof that he is a person of good
moral character. Each applicant shall furnish proof
that he holds a valid certificate showing that he has
satisfactorily completed Red Cross training, as re-
quired by the health officer, and a six (6)-hour
American Heart Association course in cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation, and such proof must be certified by
the health officer. All applicants for ambulance at-
tendant must also furnish proof of satisfactory com-
pletion of the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Basic 72-Hour Personnel Training Course, and such
proof must also be certified by the health officer.
"Each applicant for an ambulance driver's regis-
tration shall be the holder of a current chauffeur's
license issued by the Department of Public Safety of
the State of Texas.
"Pending initiation of the next available train-
ing course for Emergency Medical Technician, the
health officer may issue temporary permits for ambu-
lance attendants to applicants other than those em-
ployed by the primary contractor of the City of Fort
Worth. It is the intention of the city council that
those applicants employed by the primary contractor
of the City of Fort Worth may be issued temporary
permits as long as such primary contractor has not
less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the number
of certified Emergency Medical Technicians employed
as ambulance attendants as are required to adequately
staff and meet operational requirements for ambulance
service as deemed necessary by the health officer. "
SECTION 17.
That Section 6-26 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"The health officer shall have the authority
to suspend or revoke for cause the registration of
any driver or attendant. Any driver or attendant
whose registration has been suspended or revoked
hereunder shall have the same right of appeal as
is provided in Section 6-9."
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SECTION 18.
That Section 6-27 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same
is hereby amended by the addition of that paragraph reading
as follows:
"Ambulance companies operating without a cur-
rent certificate shall not be dispatched within
the City of Fort Worth. No ambulance company shall
monitor calls received or transmitted by the police
department or any frequency assigned to other am-
bulance companies."
SECTION 19.
That Section 6-30 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same
is hereby amended to read as follows:
"All ambulances shall use the following pro-
cedure when the subject of the emergency call is
dead on the arrival of the ambulance at the hos-
pital. 'Dead on arrival, ' as used herein, shall
mean the determination of death by a medical exam-
iner or medical doctor. Where there is not any
instruction given by the next of kin, or other re-
sponsible person related to the deceased, as to
where the body shall be delivered, the ambulance
driver shall deliver the body to a hospital until
a medical examiner or licensed medical doctor for-
mally pronounces the subject dead. The body shall
be removed by the funeral home or mortuary desig-
nated by the radio dispatcher of the police depart-
ment from the rotation list established by the
police chief for such removal services. It shall
be the responsibility of the funeral home or mor-
tuary to register with the police chief for place-
ment on such rotation list."
SECTION 20.
That Section 6-32 of Chapter 6 of the Code of the City
of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) , as amended, be, and the same
hereby is repealed.
SECTION 21.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of all provi-
sions of the Code of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) ,
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as amended, with respect to regulating the operation of am-
bulances, except in those instances where the provisions of
this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of
such Code, in which instances said conflicting provisions of
such Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 22.
That it is hereby declared to be the intention of the
City Council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences,
clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable, and
if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of
this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or uncon-
stitutional by the valid judgment or final decree of a court
of competent jurisdiction, such voidness, ineffectiveness
or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining
phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this
ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the
City Council without the incorporation herein of any such
void, ineffective or unconstitutional phrase, clause, sen-
tence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 23.
That any person violating any of the provisions of this
ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each
such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for
each day or portion thereof during which any violation of any
of the provisions of this ordinance is committed, continued
or permitted, and each violation shall be punishable by a
fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) .
SECTION 24.
That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect
from and after the date of its passage and publication, as
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required by law, and it is so ordained.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: €�
S. G. JOHNDROE, JR., CITY ATTORNEY
ADOPTED: December 10, 1973
EFFECTIVE:
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City of Dort Worth, Texas
.1 mayor and Council Communication
LINE wAeis
BAILIFF DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Revision of City Code — PAGE
NUMBER Ambulance Operation 4
GRAN" 11/19/73 G-2299 i of
YMNCOCK
Ambulance operations within the City of Fort Worth are presently regulated by
BRADSHA a City Code Amendment adopted in April of 1967. Subsequently, three additional
amendments have been adopted in attempts to more fully delineate ambulance
HIMES procedures.
..,
Regulations of ambulances were adopted because the City recognized the need
for shifting the emphasis in.ambulance service from transportation in fast,
powerful vehicles to patient care. As a result, ambulance service evolved into
the vehicles now in service, which aredesigned and -equipped to provide
limited in-ambulance patient care purposes by trained individuals.
Existing Assignment of Responsibilities
Under the present Code and administrative guidelines, the administrative res-
ponsibilities for administering the regulation .of ambulances are fragmented
into various offices and departments of the City as noted below:
Police Department
a. Supervise licensing
b. Issue permits (personnel and vehicles)
c. Insure safety of vehicles
d. Supervise operation of ambulances on the streets
e. In charge at the scene of an accident or sudden illness where
appropriate
f. Determine Contractor's sub-station site.
g. Receive and process applications for certificates of public
convenience and necessity
Fire Department
a. Be in charge at the scene of .an accident or sudden illness
where appropriate
Health Department
a. Supervise health related aspects of the service
b. Establish standards of equipment
c. Training of ambulance personnel
d. Establish standards of service
e. Certification of personnel and vehicles
Utilities Supervisor
a. Investigation of complaints
b. Preparation of reports
c. Functions relating to the Contractor's performance
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Revision of City Code — PAGE
NUMBER
11/19/73 G-2299 Ambulance Operation 2 of 4
City Secretary
a. Custodian of contract with City ambulance contractor
b. Custodian of the Contractor's .per£ormance bond
c. Issues certificates of public convenience and necessity
Reassignment of Responsibilities
The present condition of fragmented responsibility has .created-a situation
in which no single individual, office .or .department.-is accountable or respon-
sible for ambulance operations .within _the City. This has resulted in .
confusion on the part_of .the .public .and.ambulance_operators relative .to which
City department should .be contacted -when problems -arise. _It has .also resulted
in reluctance for any one department ..to .assume initiative in order to effect
changes as they became necessary.
Due to the shift .of emphasis to emergency.patient .care, .and .because of the
extensive training of ambulance _personnel_and...th.e_use -of .patient care .equip-
ment which is constantly increasing_in.sophis.tication, .the _major _responsibility
for supervision .of ambulance .procedures-and .operations_.should -be .assigned ,to
a medically oriented organization .-.the _Public .Health .Department. However, it
is recognized that -some functions -related .to _amhulance.service.cannot be
administered by the Health Department. Therefore, -it is- proposed that the
Health Department be assigned. the .major responsibilities for administering
and coordinating ambulance service in Fort Worth except for the functions
noted below:
Police Department
a. In charge at the. scene -ot._innidents.r.as appropriate
b. Supervise ambulance service on.-.tha_.s.trest
c. Clear ambulances for. emergency- operation
d. Dispatch emergency ambulances on calls made to the Police
Department
Fire Department
a. Be in charge at the scene of incidents, as appropriate
City Secretary
a. Involved in appeal when certificate .is revoked
b. Custodian of contract and contractor's performance bond
Proposed Ordinance Changes
In order to place primary responsibilit-y.-with- the- Public Health. Department.,
it becomes necessary to amend the_ City-Code.... .Also.,._in..addition to reassigning
responsibilities, other significant_ amendments,_ta the Code are requested at this
time. These amendments include .clarification-of, definitions.,-.establishing
requirements for adequate, records..to..ba.maintained by ambulance operators.,.
a revised fee schedule, establishing. requiremen.ts. for a current certificate
of convenience and necessity and establishing a penalty of $200 for violation
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Revision of City Code — PAGE
11/19/73
NUM GR2299 Ambulance Operation 3 of 4
of the ordinance as noted below:
Section 1.
a. Defines "emergency ambulance_'_.and "invalid coach", and minimum
dimensions of each.
n. The Health Officer of the City or his_ dul..y. authorized representative
is depignated as the "license officer".
Section 3.
Provides that the. certificate .of public. .convenience. and necessity
be processed by the Public Health Department to the City Council.
Section 7.
The City Secretary is to receive-notice ot..appeal from revocation of
the certificate of_ public convenience and necessity by the license
officer.
Section 11.
Requires more complete records of service to be kept by ambulance ser-
vice companies.
Section 12.
Permissible fee charged for ambulance service:
a. Base fee increased to $25 from-$22
b. Mileage fee eliminated
d. Charge for red lights and emergency speeds eliminated
e. Charge for handling special cases eliminated
i. Discount for prompt payment eliminated
j. Charges for multiple patients to be -divided equally.
The amendment to: the fees are proposed to ..correspond with the contract
with Ray Crowder which City Council approved on January 15, 1973 (M&C C-241
Section 14.
Designates the Health Officer to be responsible for vehicles and
equipment.
DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Revision Of City Code - PAGE
NUMBER Ambulance Operation 4 4
11/19/73 G-2299 of
Section 18.
Provides that any ambulance company which-Roes not hold a current
certificate of public. convenience and necessity cannot be dispatched
within the city.
Section 23.
Establishes a penalty- lausa-.w.ith a $200 maximum fine for violation
of the ordinance.
Emergency Medical Services Committee
The Emergency Medical Services .Committe .-of .Forz ...Wor.th..has. worked closely
with the City in establishing and_.administering-...the. ambulance ordinance and
is aware of the administrative difficulties .created. by -the fragmentation of
responsibilities. The. Committee. has_.xaviewed...the proposed amendments and
recommends that the changes outlined above be made.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the• ordinance that- has_.been...pregared .amending
Chapter 6 of the. Code of the. City of Fort Worth, Texas (1964) as summarized
above be approved.
RNL:ms
SUBMITTED 6Y: DISPOSITION BY COUNCIL: P ED BY
APPROV � ❑ O R (DESCRIBE)
fP CI SECRETARY
v\ VVV DATE
CITY MANAGER dn
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