Connecticut General Statutes 19a-181 – Inspection and registration of ambulance, invalid coach and authorized emergency medical services vehicle. Suspension or revocation of registration certificate
(a) In addition to the inspection required under subsection (b) of this section, each ambulance and invalid coach used by an emergency medical service organization shall be inspected to verify such ambulance or invalid coach has met the minimum standards prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Such inspection shall be conducted (1) in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 396.17, as amended from time to time, and (2) by a person (A) qualified to perform such inspection in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 396.19 and 49 C.F.R. § 396.25, as amended from time to time, and (B) employed by the state or a municipality of the state or licensed in accordance with section 14-52. A record of each inspection shall be made in accordance with section 49 C.F.R. § 396.21, as amended from time to time. Each inspector, upon determining that such ambulance or invalid coach meets the standards of safety and equipment prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, shall provide notification to the emergency medical services organization in such manner and form as said commissioner designates. The Commissioner of Public Health shall affix a safety certificate sticker in the rear compartment of such ambulance or invalid coach in a location readily visible to any person.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 19a-181
- Ambulance: means a motor vehicle specifically designed to carry patients. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-175
- Authorized emergency medical services vehicle: means an ambulance, invalid coach or advanced emergency technician-staffed intercept vehicle or a paramedic-staffed intercept vehicle licensed or certified by the Department of Public Health for purposes of providing emergency medical care to patients. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-175
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Public Health. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-175
- Emergency medical service organization: means any corporation or organization whether public, private or voluntary that (A) is licensed or certified by the Department of Public Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services, and (B) offers ambulance transportation or treatment services to patients primarily under emergency conditions or a mobile integrated health care program. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-175
- Invalid coach: means a vehicle used exclusively for the transportation of nonambulatory patients, who are not confined to stretchers, to or from either a medical facility or the patient's home in nonemergency situations or utilized in emergency situations as a backup vehicle when insufficient emergency vehicles exist. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-175
- Municipality: means the legislative body of a municipality or the board of selectmen in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-175
(b) Each authorized emergency medical services vehicle used by an emergency medical service organization shall be inspected by the Department of Public Health to verify the authorized emergency medical services vehicle is in compliance with the minimum standards for vehicle design and equipment as prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Such minimum standards shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
(1) Each ambulance shall meet or exceed the design criteria of the United States General Services Administration’s federal specification for the star-of-life ambulance, as described in KKK-A-1822, as amended from time to time, with an exemption for the color scheme and decals of the ambulance;
(2) Each authorized emergency medical service vehicle shall be equipped with the equipment required for its specific vehicle classification as specified in the 2022 Connecticut EMS Minimum Equipment Checklist, as amended from time to time; and
(3) Each authorized emergency medical service vehicle shall comply with all state and federal safety, design and equipment requirements.
(c) Each inspector, upon determining that such authorized emergency medical services vehicle meets the standards of safety and equipment prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, shall affix a compliance certificate in the rear compartment of such vehicle, in such manner and form as said commissioner designates, and such sticker shall be so placed as to be readily visible to any person. The Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner’s designee may inspect any rescue vehicle used by an emergency medical service organization for compliance with the minimum equipment standards prescribed by said commissioner.
(d) Each authorized emergency medical services vehicle shall be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to chapter 246. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a certificate of registration for any such authorized emergency medical services vehicle unless the applicant for such certificate of registration presents to said department a compliance certificate from the Commissioner of Public Health certifying that such authorized emergency medical services vehicle has been inspected and has met the minimum safety and vehicle design equipment standards prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health. Each vehicle registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles in accordance with this subsection shall be inspected by the Commissioner of Public Health or the commissioner’s designee not less than once every two years on or before the anniversary date of the issuance of the certificate of registration.
(e) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend or revoke the certificate of registration of any vehicle inspected under the provisions of this section upon certification from the Commissioner of Public Health that such ambulance or rescue vehicle has failed to meet the minimum standards prescribed by said commissioner.