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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: HHS DP 12-0-0-0
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HB 2179: air ambulance services
Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13
House Engrossed
Overview
Establishes definitions relating to air ambulance services to distinguish ground ambulance and air ambulance regulations throughout statute. Updates various statutory terms and regulations to include air ambulances where applicable.
History
Statute defines an ambulance as any public or privately owned surface, water or air vehicle, including a helicopter, that contains a stretcher and necessary medical equipment and supplies that is specially designed and constructed or modified and equipped to be used, maintained or operated primarily to transport individuals who are sick, injured or wounded or who require medical monitoring or aid. Vehicles that are not considered ambulances include: 1) vehicles owned and operated by a business or government solely to transport their own employees in emergencies; 2) vehicles used to transport an incapacitated person or a person with a disability when no medical care, monitoring or treatment is needing the during transport; and 3) vehicles that are not advertised as having medical equipment, supplies or ambulance attendants (A.R.S. § 36-2201).
A person wishing to operate an air ambulance in Arizona must obtain a certificate of registration from the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) and comply with all applicable statutes and rules (A.R.S. § 36-2201).
Provisions
Air Ambulance Definitions
1. Defines air ambulance as any publicly or privately owned aircraft that is certificated under federal regulations that contains a stretcher, necessary medical equipment and supplies that is specifically designed, constructed, modified, and equipped to be used, maintained, or operated primarily to transport individuals who are sick, injured, wounded or require medical monitoring or aid. (Sec. 5, 20)
2. Defines air ambulance service as a person or organization that owns and operates air ambulances or that leases from an air carrier the use of one or more air ambulances that are certificated under federal regulations for the purpose of providing emergency medical services in air ambulances. (Sec. 5, 20)
3. Defines air ambulance attendant as a:
a. physician;
b. respiratory therapist;
c. nurse practitioner;
d. paramedic whose primary responsibility is caring for patients in an air ambulance and meets all applicable standards and criteria for emergency patient care; or
e. professional nurse whose primary responsibility is caring for patients in an air ambulance. (Sec. 5)
4. Separates air ambulances from the definition of ambulance to explicitly define ground ambulance and air ambulance regulations throughout statute. (Sec. 5, 20)
5. Updates various terms throughout statute to include air ambulance as applicable. (Sec. 1, 4, 13, 18)
Miscellaneous
6. Removes the requirement that the DHS Director adopt rules to establish response and operation times for air ambulances operations. (Sec. 11)
7. Includes, in DHS air ambulance service criteria and procedures, a requirement that air ambulances, while providing interfacility transport, be staffed by at least:
a. one air ambulance attendant who is either a physician or professional nurse; and
b. one air ambulance attendant who is either an emergency medical technician, emergency medical responder or professional nurse. (Sec. 6)
8. Authorizes DHS to investigate an air ambulance operation to the extent that:
a. the complaint or proceedings initiated by DHS relate to the emergency medical services provided by the air ambulance or air ambulance attendant; and
b. the investigation does not conflict with any federal law or regulation governing air carriers. (Sec. 16)
9. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-21)
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13. Initials AG HB 2179
14. 1/14/2026 Page 0 House Engrossed
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