§ 62-92. Certifications and standards for personnel.

(a)

After August 1, 2012, every medical transportation vehicle not specifically excluded in the provisions of this article, when transporting a sick, injured, wounded, incapacitated or helpless person, shall be occupied by at least two persons, one of whom is either a licensed physician, registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or emergency medical technician, and the highest level of provider must be present in the patient compartment of the vehicle, and the other to be a certified medical transportation vehicle driver.

(b)

Any person desiring certification as an emergency medical technician shall make application to the department on forms provided by the department. The department shall determine whether the applicant meets the prescribed qualifications as set forth in this section and, if so, issue a certificate.

(c)

An applicant for an emergency medical technician's permit must:

(1)

Have completed training which meets state standards, and possess a state EMT permit and a national registry of EMT certification.

(2)

Be free from addiction to alcohol or any narcotic or drug.

(3)

Be free from any physical or mental defect or disease which might impair the applicant's ability to attend a medical transportation vehicle.

(d)

An applicant for a medical transportation vehicle driver's certificate must meet all standards required of an emergency medical technician, and in addition:

(1)

Must have completed within the past one year, a defensive driving course approved by the department.

(2)

Must hold a valid state driver's license of either Class D or E, as specified by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles.

(3)

Must be at least 18 years of age.

(e)

Emergency medical technician and medical transportation driver certificates are valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance, and may be renewed if the holder meets the prescribed standards at the time of renewal.

(f)

The department is authorized to suspend or revoke a certificate at any time, if it determines, after notice and hearing in accordance with due process requirements, that the holder fails to meet the prescribed qualifications.

(g)

No personnel shall have ever been convicted under the laws of this state or of any other state, or of the United States, of the offense of murder, aggravated battery, aggravated rape, simple rape, aggravated burglary, simple burglary, aggravated kidnapping, simple kidnapping, armed robbery, simple robbery, pandering, prostitution, soliciting for prostitutes, illegal possession or sale or use of narcotics, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile or indecent behavior with a juvenile.

(h)

No personnel shall have been convicted of any other felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude against the criminal laws of this state or of any other state, or of the United States within five years, nor shall such person have served any part of a sentence therefor within five years before the date of the filing of the application, nor shall such person be presently charged therewith, or with any of the felonies, offenses or misdemeanors set forth in paragraph (3) of this section or with violating any of the provisions of this chapter.

(i)

All employees of provider who shall operate an ambulance in the City of New Orleans shall have been issued and be in possession of a valid driver's license for the operation of said vehicle. Additionally, provider shall, at all times, certify, under the penalty of permit revocation, that all drivers of its ambulances meet the following criteria:

(1)

The driver is a person of at least 18 years of age; and

(2)

The driver is a Louisiana certified emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or emergency medical technician-paramedic.

(3)

No person shall impersonate, refer to himself, or otherwise hold himself out as a basic, intermediate or paramedic emergency medical technician without maintaining a current certification as such.

(M.C.S., Ord. No. 25023, § 1, 9-20-12)