A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT relating to the 2001 revisions of the emergency medical services act of 1973 and making clarifications concerning ambulance services provided under county emergency medical services plans.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 56 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑517.1.  Ambulance support; continuation of contracts.
(a)	Notwithstanding the provisions of S.L. 2001‑452, a county may not discontinue unilaterally a contract for ambulance services when adopting its county emergency medical services plan if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)	The rescue squad providing the services existed on or before July 15, 2001, and was in full compliance with then applicable laws.
(2)	The rescue squad and the county entered into a contract for the provision of services in the county on or before July 15, 2001, and the rescue squad was performing as agreed by the parties.
(3)	The rescue squad has provided ambulance services in the relevant area of the county for a period of at least 15 consecutive years.
(4)	The rescue squad is in full compliance with current applicable laws.
(b)	The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not approve a county emergency medical services plan that discontinues unilaterally a contract with a rescue squad unless the county's action is in full compliance with this section. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not make a special grant‑in-aid to a county that fails to comply with this section. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall attempt to mediate disputes arising under this section."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.