REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 22, 2023
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Operating Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution Establishing a Policy Regarding Ambulance Services Contracts
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve and adopt a Resolution to establish a policy regarding San Bernardino County ambulance services contracts as required by Assembly Bill 389.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief Operating Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as adoption of the proposed Resolution is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On October 4, 2021, Assembly Bill (AB) 389 was passed and signed by the California Governor. AB 389 adds Section 1797.230 to the Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5, which requires the Board of Supervisors (Board) to adopt, by ordinance or resolution, a written policy setting forth issues to be considered for inclusion in any San Bernardino County (County) contract for emergency ambulance services entered into, or renewed, on or after January 1, 2022.
The proposed Resolution is drafted with the following required elements from the statute:
• Employment retention requirements for the employees of the incumbent ambulance service in the event of a new ambulance services contract or transition to a new ambulance service provider.
• Established minimum qualifications and documentation of credentials, including demonstrated experience serving similar populations and geographic areas.
• Diversity and equity efforts addressing the unique needs of vulnerable, underserved, and under-resourced populations in the service area.
• Financial requirements, including, but not limited to, insurance requirements and the provision of performance security (bond or irrevocable letter of credit).
• A description of the ambulance service provider’s public information and education activities, and community involvement.
As a further statutory requirement, the contract shall demonstrate:
• How the County contract will provide for the payment of comparable wages and benefits to all ambulance service employees that are generally consistent with those provided to ambulance service employees in the same geographic region.
• That the staffing levels for ambulance service employees will be comparable to the staffing levels under the County’s previous contract.
The County Administrative Office and the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA) released Request for Proposals (RFP) No. ICEMA23-ICEMA-4811 on December 20, 2022, and are currently in contract negotiations for a new ambulance provider. It is expected that a request to award the contract will be brought to the Board for consideration by Fall of 2023.
Board adoption of this Resolution and policy is necessary prior to entering into a new contract, or the renewal of an existing contract, for emergency ambulance services.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 10, 2023; Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (Daniel Munoz, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-5807) on August 9, 2023; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on August 10, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 10, 2023.