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TITLE 25HEALTH SERVICES
PART 1DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER 157EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
SUBCHAPTER AEMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES - PART A
RULE §157.3Processing EMS Provider Licenses and Applications for EMS Personnel Certification and Licensure

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to set out the time periods by which the Texas Department of State Health Services (department) reviews applications for completeness and processes applications to make an eligibility determination of applicants for various Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certifications, licenses and approvals. This section does not apply to applications for trauma facility designation, but does apply to applications for the following:

  (1) EMS Provider License,

  (2) First Responder Organization (FRO) license;

  (3) EMS Personnel Certifications;

  (4) Paramedic Licenses;

  (5) EMS Personnel Certification or Paramedic License via Reciprocity;

  (6) EMS Personnel Certification or Paramedic License via Upgrade;

  (7) EMS Course Coordinator certification;

  (8) EMS Instructor Certification;

  (9) EMS Information Operator Certification;

  (10) Comprehensive Clinical Management Program (CCMP) Approval;

  (11) EMS Education Program Approval;

  (12) EMS Course Approval;

  (13) EMS Continuing Education Provider Approval;

  (14) EMS Information Operator Instructor Certification;

  (15) EMS Information Operator Training Program Approval, and

  (16) EMS Information Operator Instructor Training Program Approval.

(b) Period for Processing Initial or Renewal Application. This period begins on the date the department receives for review and processing a fully completed written initial or renewal application for any of those certifications, licenses or approvals listed in subsection (a)(1) - (16) of this section and ends on the date the department issues the certification or license, or sends a written notice proposing to deny granting the certification, license or approval. The certification, license or approval may be sent to the applicant in lieu of sending a notice of acceptance of an application.

  (1) This period will be no more than 60 calendar days.

  (2) This period will be no more than 120 calendar days for an EMS provider license initial applicant, seeking a variance from eligibility requirements.

  (3) This period may be no more than 180 days for an applicant of whom the department is conducting a criminal background investigation.

  (4) If the department receives information from any other person or source that would cause the department to begin a criminal background investigation of an applicant, this period may be no more than 180 days from the date the department sends written notice that it's conducting a criminal background investigation.

  (5) This period may be longer than noted periods, if an application is deficient and becomes subject to a continuing review of the application.

  (6) This period may be longer than noted periods, if the department proposes to deny the granting of a license, certification or approval and the applicant timely requests an administrative appeal hearing, thus causing a final determination to be made pursuant to timelines relative to Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001 and the department's appeal rules in this chapter.

(c) Period for Continuing Review of an Initial or Renewal Application.

  (1) Incomplete Information. If an initial or renewal application is incomplete, the department will send written notice to the applicant that it is deficient and will specify what information is required to cure all deficiencies and make it complete and acceptable for filing. If the department is conducting a criminal background investigation of the applicant during its application review, it may send the applicant a request for information needed for its investigation to determine the applicant's continued eligibility. The department will send such notice, and/or request, by the 30th day of its receipt of a deficient application or receipt of information giving cause for a criminal background investigation. Once an application is subject to a continuing review of the application, the 60 day period for the department either to issue, or propose to deny, the license, certification or approval will be extended based upon the applicant's timeliness in providing the information and other factors related to the department's reviewing and processing the application.

    (A) Application Deficiency. If an application deficiency is based upon an absence of information required to make the application complete for filing, the applicant shall provide the required information to the department by the 30th day from the date that the department sent a written request for required information to cure the application's deficiencies.

    (B) Eligibility Deficiency. If an application deficiency is based upon the applicant's lack of fulfilling an eligibility requirement(s) that causes an absence of information required to make the application complete for filing, the applicant shall provide written notification to the department of such along with a time estimate as to when such eligibility requirement(s) will be fulfilled and shall do so by the 30th day from the date that the department sent a written request for required information to cure the application's deficiencies.

    (C) Criminal Background Investigation. If the department is conducting a criminal background investigation of the applicant during its application review and sends the applicant a request for information needed for its criminal background investigation, the applicant shall provide such requested information by the 30th day from the date that the department sent a written request for the required information.

  (2) Second Attempt to Cure Incomplete Information.

    (A) Application Deficiency Information. If the applicant timely provides any written information that attempts to respond to a notice of application deficiencies, but which still does not cure said deficiencies, the department will send a second written notice specifying what information is required to cure the deficiencies. The department will send this second written notice by the 30th day from the day it receives the information that attempts to satisfy its earlier request. The applicant shall provide the requested information to the department by the 30th day from the date the department sent its second written request for required information to cure the application's deficiencies.

    (B) Criminal Background Information - If the applicant timely provides any written information or documentation that does not completely fulfill an earlier request for information needed for a criminal background investigation, the department will send a second written notice specifying what information is needed for its investigation. The department will send this second written notice by the 30th day from the day it receives the information that attempts to satisfy its earlier request. The applicant shall provide the requested information to the department by the 30th day from the date the department sent its second written request for information needed for its investigation.

  (3) Complete Information. If the applicant timely provides information that cures application deficiencies and fully completes the application for filing or satisfactorily provides the requested information needed for a criminal background investigation to determine applicant's continuing eligibility, the department, by the 60th day from the date that the department receives such information, will either issue the certification, license or approval or send a written notice proposing to deny granting the certification, license or approval.

  (4) Failure to Cure Initial Application Deficiencies or Provide Complete Information.

    (A) If the department does not timely receive from the initial applicant any information in response to the department's first or second written notice of initial application deficiencies and request for curing information, the initial application is deemed to be withdrawn and/or void on the 30th day from the date the department sent its request, and the initial application fee is forfeited.

    (B) If the department does not timely receive from the initial applicant the requested information needed for its criminal background investigation to determine the initial applicant's continued eligibility, the department may propose to deny granting the initial certification, license or approval.

  (5) Failure to Cure Initial Application Deficiencies Related to Eligibility Requirements.

    (A) If an initial application for EMS Personnel Certifications, Paramedic Licenses, EMS Personnel Certification or Paramedic License via Reciprocity, EMS Personnel Certification or Paramedic License via Upgrade, EMS Course Coordinator certification, EMS Instructor Certification, EMS Information Operator Certification, EMS Information Operator Instructor Certification, is deficient because the applicant has not yet fulfilled certain eligibility requirements, outlined in this chapter, and the applicant has timely notified the department of such, the department may withhold making Cont'd...

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