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PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
First Regular Session of the 120th

CHAPTER 229
S.P. 509 - L.D. 1596

An Act to Amend the Maine Emergency Medical Services Act of 1982

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

     Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §152, sub-§9, as amended by PL 1999, c. 731, Pt. ZZZ, §4 and affected by §42, is further amended to read:

     9. Licensing jurisdiction. Except as provided in Title 5, section 10004; Title 8, section 279-B; Title 10, section 8003, subsection 5; Title 20-A, sections 10712 and 10713; Title 29-A; Title 32, chapters 2-B, 105 and 114; and Title 35-A, section 3132, exclusive jurisdiction upon complaint of an agency or, if the licensing agency fails or refuses to act within a reasonable time, upon complaint of the Attorney General to revoke or suspend licenses issued by the agency. The District Court has original jurisdiction upon complaint of a licensing agency to determine whether renewal or reissuance of a license of that agency may be refused. The District Court has original concurrent jurisdiction to grant equitable relief in proceedings initiated by an agency or the Department of the Attorney General alleging any violation of a license or licensing laws or rules.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a licensing agency may not reinstate or otherwise affect a license suspended, revoked or modified by the District Court pursuant to a complaint filed by the Attorney General without the approval of the Attorney General;

     Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §10051, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §19 and affected by §80, is further amended to read:

     1. Jurisdiction. Except as provided in section 10004; Title 8, section 279-B; Title 10, section 8003; Title 20-A, sections 10712 and 10713; Title 29-A; Title 32, chapters 2-B, 105 and 114; and Title 35-A, section 3132, the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction upon complaint of any agency or, if the licensing agency fails or refuses to act within a reasonable time, upon complaint of the Attorney General to revoke or suspend licenses issued by the agency and has original jurisdiction upon complaint of an agency to determine whether renewal or reissuance of a license of that agency may be refused.

     Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §85, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 742, §1, is further amended to read:

     2. Advanced emergency medical treatment. With the advice and consultation noted in subsection 1, the board may provide, by rule, which advanced skills, techniques and judgments may be supervised by a physician by means of standing orders, by voice radio and by other means. Nothing in this section may preclude protocols in a particular region from imposing controls more strict than those permitted by the board's rules on the use of a skill, technique or judgment. In every case, advanced emergency medical treatment must be given in accordance with protocols adopted by the Medical Direction and Practices Board.

The board may establish by rule appropriate licensure levels for advanced emergency medical technicians and fix the qualifications for persons to hold those licenses.

     Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §88, sub-§§3 and 4 are enacted to read:

     3. Authority. In addition to authority otherwise conferred, the board or, as delegated, its subcommittee or staff may, for each violation of applicable laws, rules or conditions of licensure or registration, in accordance with the procedures established in section 90-A and any rules adopted by the board, take one or more of the following actions:

     4. Authority to issue letters of guidance. In addition to authority otherwise conferred, the board or, as delegated, its subcommittee or staff may issue a letter of guidance or concern to an applicant or licensee.

     Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §90-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §19, is further amended to read:

     1. Disciplinary proceedings and sanctions. The board or, as delegated, its subcommittee or staff, shall investigate a complaint, on the board's its own motion or upon receipt of a written complaint filed with the board, regarding noncompliance with or violation of this chapter or of any rules adopted by the board. Investigation may include an informal conference or a hearing or both before the board, its subcommittee or staff to determine whether grounds exist for suspension, revocation or denial of a license or as otherwise determined necessary by the board to the fulfillment of its responsibilities under for taking other disciplinary action pursuant to this chapter. Hearings must be conducted in conformity with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter IV, to the extent applicable. The board, its subcommittee or staff may subpoena witnesses, records and documents, including records and documents maintained by a health care facility or other service organization or person related to the delivery of emergency medical services, in any investigation or hearing it conducts.

     Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §90-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §35, is further amended to read:

     3. Informal conference. If, in the opinion of the board, the factual basis of the complaint is or may be true and the complaint is of sufficient gravity to warrant further action, the board or staff may request an informal conference with the licensee. The board shall provide the licensee with adequate notice of the conference and of the issues to be discussed. The conference must be conducted in executive session of the board, subcommittee or staff, pursuant to Title 1, section 405, unless otherwise requested by the licensee. Statements made at the conference may not be introduced at a subsequent formal administrative or judicial hearing unless all parties consent. The licensee may, without prejudice, refuse to participate in an informal conference if the licensee prefers to immediately hold a formal request an adjudicatory hearing. If the licensee participates in the informal conference, the licensee waives the right to object to a participant at the hearing who participated at the informal conference.

     Sec. 7. 32 MRSA §90-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §58 and affected by §80, is further amended to read:

     4. Further action. If the board, its subcommittee or staff finds that the factual basis of the complaint is true and is of sufficient gravity to warrant further action, the board it may take any of the following actions.

     Sec. 8. 32 MRSA §90-A, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1993, c. 575, §3 and c. 600, Pt. A, §36, is further amended to read:

     5. Grounds for licensing action. The board may suspend or revoke a license pursuant to Title 5, section 10004. Refusal to issue or renew a license or to modify, suspend or revoke a license of a person, service or vehicle may be predicated on the following grounds: A decision to take action against any applicant or licensee pursuant to this chapter or any rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, a decision to impose a civil penalty or to refuse to issue or renew a license or to modify, suspend or revoke a license of a person, service or vehicle, may be predicated on the following grounds:

     Sec. 9. 32 MRSA §91-A, as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §20, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§91-A. Appeals

     Any person or organization aggrieved by the decision of the staff or a subcommittee of the board in waiving the application of any rule, in modifying or refusing to issue or renew a license, in taking any disciplinary action pursuant to this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or in the interpretation of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter may appeal the decision to the board for a final decision. The staff's or subcommittee's decision stands until the board issues a decision to uphold, modify or overrule the staff's or subcommittee's decision. In the case of nonrenewal, the person or organization must be afforded an opportunity for hearing in accordance with this chapter and the Maine Administrative Procedure Act.

     Any person or organization aggrieved by a final decision of the board in waiving the application of any rule, in refusing to issue or renew a license, in taking any disciplinary action pursuant to this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or in the interpretation of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter may appeal the board's decision to the Superior Court in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter VII.

     Sec. 10. 32 MRSA §92, as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §§21 and 22, is further amended to read:

§92. Confidentiality of information

     Any reports, information or records provided to the board or department pursuant to this chapter must be provided to the licensee and are confidential insofar as the reports, information or records identify or permit identification of any patient, provided that the board may disclose any confidential information as follows:.

     1. Hearings or proceedings. In Confidential information may be released in an adjudicatory hearing or informal conference before the board or in any subsequent formal proceeding to which information is relevant; and.

     2. Consent agreements or settlement. In Confidential information may be released in a consent agreement or other written settlement, when the information constitutes or pertains to the basis of board action.

     3. During investigation. All complaints and investigative records of the board are confidential during the pendency of an investigation. Those records become public records upon the conclusion of an investigation unless confidentiality is required by some other provision of law. For purposes of this subsection, an investigation is concluded when:

     4. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 3, during the pendency of an investigation, a complaint or investigative record may be disclosed:

     Sec. 11. 32 MRSA §92-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 588, §23, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

     2. Confidentiality. All proceedings and records of proceedings concerning the quality assurance activities of an emergency medical services quality assurance committee approved by the board and all reports, information and records provided to the committee are confidential and may not be obtained by discovery from the committee, the board or its staff.

Effective September 21, 2001, unless otherwise indicated.

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