Clearfield lawmaker Rep. Paul Ray plans to reintroduce legislation in the soon-to-start session that would move governance of Utah's emergency medical services community from the state health department to the public safety division.
If it happens, the move would transfer control of the certification process of thousands of paramedics and emergency medical technicians in Utah.
Ray, a Republican representing District 13 in the Utah House of Representatives, said he met with Gov. Gary Herbert in the fall to talk about the bill.
"It's just a better fit, moving it to public safety," said Ray, who chairs the Utah House health and human services committee.
Ray first introduced the proposal late in the last session of the Utah Legislature and says he's been refining it since then.
His proposal includes the idea that since the Utah Public Safety Department is in charge of fire and police, putting the EMS community under the same director would help during community or statewide disasters.
"What I am trying to do is get it under one agency for good connection and good communication," Ray said.
But State Health Director David Sundwall was doubtful that moving the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services would improve organization and believes the change would initially cost the state money to make the switch.
"I'm skeptical of the actual saving or efficiencies by just reorganizing." Sundwall said.
"But I am welcome to look at it and work with the legislators to see how it can be done better."
The effort to switch the EMS bureau has also aroused concerns from others in the health community.
Davis County Health Director Lewis Garrett is part of a leadership group recently created to help coordinate the activities of the local health departments with statewide issues.
"At first blush, I would say they need to be careful about it." said Garrett. "There is a lot of medical overlay in the EMS operations."
The legislation comes after statehouse discussion last session regarding possible reorganization of the state health department.
But Ray said this not a renewal of that discussion and that he supports keeping the health department relatively intact.
The legislative session begins in late January.
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