| (16) in cooperation with the training program supervise
and evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical and field internship
training for assigned courses;
(17) in cooperation with the training program attest
to the successful course completion of all students who meet the program's
requirements for completion;
(18) provide students with written information on the
Texas process to gain certification or licensure;
(19) educate students on current Texas EMS laws, policies
and rules;
(20) provide written notification to the department
within 24 hours or the next normal business day when leaving as the
course coordinator for an ongoing EMS program; and
(21) provide to the program within 24 hours or the
next normal business day all course material for an ongoing EMS program.
(i) Exception. A program may request the department
to grant an exception to allow a person not currently certified as
a course coordinator to temporarily perform the duties listed in subsection
(h) of this section.
(1) Such request must be submitted in writing and must
include the following:
(A) documentation of the urgency of the situation;
(B) a letter from the program endorsing the individual
who is to temporarily perform the duties of course coordinator; and
(C) letters of intent from qualified providers of clinical
and field internship experiences appropriate to the level of training
to be offered; and
(D) a letter of intent from a medical director.
(2) In determining whether the request for an exception
is to be approved or denied, the department shall consider but not
be limited to the following issues:
(A) resignation of a previous course coordinator or
the inability of a course coordinator to complete a current training
course;
(B) need for training in an area where a certified
course coordinator is not available within a reasonable distance and
training is unavailable through no outreach or distance learning technology;
and
(C) the probable adverse consequences to prehospital
emergency care, if the exception is not approved.
(3) After evaluation by the department, the program
shall be notified, in writing, of the approval or denial of the request.
(4) An individual who is approved shall be considered
a temporary course coordinator for not more than two years . If all
requirements for course coordinator certification are not met in the
two-year period, the approved training program with which the coordinator
is affiliated must demonstrate a continuing need for the exception.
If the department does not continue the exception, temporary status
shall cease and the individual may no longer function as a temporary
course coordinator.
(j) Recertification.
(1) Prior to the expiration of a course coordinator
certificate, the department shall send a notice of expiration to the
certificant at the address shown in the current records of the department.
It is the responsibility of course coordinators to notify the department
of any change of address.
(2) If a certificant has not received notice of expiration
from the department 30 days prior to the expiration, it is the duty
of the certificant to notify the department and request an application
for recertification. Failure to apply for recertification shall result
in expiration of the certificate.
(3) To be eligible for recertification, the course
coordinator shall meet recertification requirements during the latest
coordinator certification period and:
(A) maintain active EMS certification as required in
subsection (a)(2) of this section;
(B) attend updates for course coordinator as required
by the department;
(C) maintain association with:
(i) an approved basic or advanced program if recertifying
as a basic coordinator;
(ii) an approved advanced program if recertifying as
an advanced coordinator;
(D) maintain affiliation with entities which provide
clinical and field internship experience;
(E) submit an application for recertification and a
nonrefundable fee as in subsection (d) or (e) of this section;
(F) submit documentation of observing or providing
at least 8 hours of emergency medical care by a licensed EMS provider,
first responder organization or clinical site.
(4) After verification by the department of the information
submitted the course coordinator who meets the requirements of subsection
(d) or (e) of this section shall be recertified for two years commencing
on the date following the expiration of the last certificate.
(k) Late recertification.
(1) An application for recertification shall be considered
late if the application and nonrefundable fee are received after the
most recent certificate has expired and if all requirements for recertification
are not met prior to the end of the most recent certification period.
(2) A course coordinator who has not recertified prior
to the end of his most recent certification period is not certified
and may not perform the duties of a course coordinator.
(l) To be eligible for recertification, the candidate
shall meet the following:
(1) A candidate whose certificate has been expired
for 90 days or less may renew the certificate by submitting an application
and paying a nonrefundable renewal fee that is equal to 1-1/2 times
the normally required application renewal fee for that level as listed
in subsection (d) or (e) of this section.
(2) A candidate whose certificate has been expired
for more than 90 days but less than one year may renew the certificate
by submitting an application and paying a nonrefundable renewal fee
that is equal to two times the normally required application renewal
fee as listed in subsection (d) or (e) of this section.
(3) A candidate must complete of all requirements for
recertification no later than one year after the expiration of the
most recent certificate.
(4) After verification by the department of the information
submitted by the candidate, the candidate who meets the requirements
of this subsection shall be recertified for two years commencing on
the day of issuance of a certificate.
(5) A candidate whose certification is expired more
than one year must meet the requirements of subsection (d) or (e)
of this section including the completion of another initial course
to be certified.
(m) Disciplinary actions.
(1) Administrative penalty. The department may impose
an administrative penalty on a course coordinator not to exceed $7,500
per day per violation of the Health and Safety Code or the rules adopted
thereunder.
(2) Emergency suspension. The department may issue
an emergency order to suspend a course coordinator's certification
if the department has reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the
certified course coordinator creates an imminent danger to the public
health and safety.
(A) An emergency suspension shall be effective immediately
without a hearing or notice to the certificate holder. Notice shall
be established on the date that a copy of the signed emergency suspension
order is sent to the address shown in the current records of the department.
Notice shall also be given to any sponsoring entity.
(B) If a written request for a hearing is received
from the certificate holder within 15 days of the suspension, the
department shall conduct a hearing not later than the 30th day after
the date on which a hearing request is received to determine if the
emergency suspension is to be continued, modified, or rescinded. The
hearing and appeal from any disciplinary action related to the hearing
shall be governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, Government
Code, Chapter 2001.
(3) Reprimand, suspension, or revocation. A course
coordinator may be reprimanded or the course coordinator's certification
may be suspended or revoked for, but not limited to the following:
(A) failing to maintain active status EMS personnel
certification at the appropriate level;
(B) failing to comply with the responsibilities of
a course coordinator as defined in subsection (h) of this section;
(C) falsifying an application for EMS certification
or licensure;
(D) falsifying a program approval application, a self-study,
a course approval application, or any supporting documentation;
(E) falsifying a course completion certificate or any
other document that records or verifies course activity and/or is
a part of the course record;
(F) assisting another to obtain or to attempt to obtain
personnel certification or recertification by fraud, forgery, deception,
or misrepresentation;
Cont'd... |
