H.B. 402 EMS Controlled Substance Licensing Amendments: transcript

you. Uh, here with me, um, on the spot. I know. There you go. It's a long session, but, uh, I appreciate him being here with me. Um, what we're doing today is we're attempting to, uh, create a controlled substance license for an emergency medical services agency. Um, this is, uh, the structure around it with Doppel, uh, the administration. Uh, but the primary issue is making sure that, um, we're not, you know, putting unnecessary delays in treatment and process. We're not costing, uh, money where we don't need to. Uh, we're eliminating some waste and we're, uh, making sure that we can administer what we need to in a timely manner. I'll let him summarize if you'd like to.

Yes, thank you. I'll be very brief. Um, uh, so controlled substances are used very regularly by EMS agencies, uh, in the pre-hospital setting for emergencies, pain management, seizures, uh, airway management, that sort of thing. Uh, as a result, we are, uh, governed by the federal DEA and how we manage track and, uh, administer those medications. Uh, the, uh, DEA has recently passed, I believe it was last week, it was February 6th, a new registration for an EMS agency that has previously never existed. This was created in a law in 2017 administrative rule at the federal level in 2020. And it was just passed, um, 2026, February 6th last week. Um, what we are asking for is that the state of Utah create a law that basically authorizes agencies in the state of Utah to use this federal registration. Um, that, as Representative Wilcox mentioned, will significantly, significantly streamline, uh, the process for how we track, administer and manage our controls substances. Uh, but it'll make it much easier and then it will allow agencies to have actual guidance and guidelines for how these medications are managed, um, by EMS agencies specifically. That concludes our presentation.

Uh, good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. My name is Clint Smith. I'm the Fire Chief for Draper City Fire Department and also representing the Utah Fire State Fire Chiefs Association. I'd like to speak in support of this bill today. Um, I previously served with UFA in the same position that Chief A is in today. Um, and now having that same responsibility for our agency and Draper, I will tell you that, uh, again, we use, uh, controlled substances on a regular basis, but there has never been really a clear, uh, pathway of how we are to report and fall under the guidelines of DEA until just their, a rule was passed. We've very much kind of operated in a gray space where we have been kind of been trying to pound the proverbial, uh, EMS round peg into the DEA, uh, or excuse me, the square peg into the DEA round hole. Um, and trying to fit that. And they've tried to massage that, but it hasn't been clear into this point. This cer uh, licensure will create a clear pathway and clear accounting to our agencies that will make, keep them, uh, within the regulations and requirements of DEA. So we encourage your support on this. Thank you.

Yes. Motion to pass out favorably HP 4 0 2 EMS controlled substance licensing amendment. First substitute with a favorable recommendation. Thank

Um, I just think the clarity is really important so that, um, and also for our emergency services and, um, everyone to just know how much we appreciate the work that they do. They save lives and, uh, this will help clarify their, their scope of, uh, practice. So thank you.

I was all packed up and ready to leave.

I, I mean, I can't do it in five minutes or less.

Thank you. We can make this one pretty short. I'm gonna turn the time over to, uh, chief Ayers real quick with the Fire Chiefs.

Yes, thank you. It'll be very brief. Um, as you know, uh, EMS organizations use controlled substances every day, uh, for lifesaving interventions, including stopping seizures, pain control, and securing airways.

Ahead, chief. I apologize. My name is Rob ERs, EMS, division Chief for Unified Fire Authority.

That's okay. I apologize. Um, uh, as part of, uh, use of these controlled substances, the federal DEA has, uh, established a new agency registration, um, that just went into effect in early February. Um, and the point of the purpose of this registration is to streamline the management and tracking of these controlled substances. In order for any agency in the state of Utah to take advantage of this new registration, there has to be a state law that authorizes the agencies to, uh, register as such, but as an agency. So this bill is seeking to establish an agency controlled substance license for EMS agencies. Um, and this license and associated rules would dictate the, uh, uh, the way that we manage track and administer meds in the pre-hospital setting.

That's correct. Yes. Every agency has a, a physician medical director, uh, that's in charge of, uh, written protocols for how they're used and then also managing the meds.

Uh, thank you Mr. Chair, members of the committee. My name is Clint Smith. I'm the fire chief in Draper City Fire and also representing the Utah State Fire Chiefs, uh, wanna speak in, uh, support of HB 4 0 2. Uh, as was already mentioned, uh, we've been, you know, working for years kind of in this gray space, uh, with how we, uh, manage and, and control and report the use of our narcotics under DEA regulations. And now with the clarification that they have, uh, just recently made, uh, it does again, require us to be licensed through the state in order to be granted this. And as Representative Wilcox mentioned, uh, basically be to be able to be in compliance with those federal mandates. So we encourage, uh, the committee's passage of this bill today. Thank you very much.

The bill's been circled. Mad reading clerk Per substitute house bill 4 0 2 EMS controlled substance licensing amendments by Representative Wilcox. This bill was assert in law enforcement and criminal justice with the vote of 8 0 3 Representative Wilcox.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, this bill, uh, representatives allows our, uh, EMS providers to be, uh, to function in emergency scenarios as we've always intended, that they have, um, with a limited license to dispense emergency medication, um, without having to delay for, uh, different prescriptions and all of that. It's mostly an issue that we've had to make sure that, uh, they don't get prosecuted by the feds when they save your life with emergency medication. Happy to answer any questions.

I'll waive. Thank you. Summation has been waived.

Uh, emergency medical Services, uh, are authorized to, uh, deliver controlled substance and medications to individuals when they're treating. Previously done through more of a collaborative practice agreement. Now this is setting up a licensure process where each, uh, of the medical service, emergency medical services throughout the state would have a license to be able to do that. The director would be, uh, a physician that can have sign those orders and just allows them to have, have authorization to, uh, to administer, uh, control substance pro medications when needed. That I'm open for questions.

Thank you. Edward Summation, move the first substitute hospital 4 0 2 pass under suspension of the rules.

Thank you Mr. President.