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92_HB0279gms
STATE OF ILLINOIS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
SPRINGFIELD, 62706
GEORGE H. RYAN
GOVERNOR
August 1, 2001
To the Honorable Members of the
Illinois House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Governor by
Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of
1970, and re-affirmed by the People of the State of Illinois
by popular referendum in 1974, and conforming to the standard
articulated by the Illinois Supreme Court in People ex Rel.
Klinger v. Howlett, 50 Ill. 2d 242 (1972), Continental
Illinois National Bank and Trust Co. v. Zagel, 78 Ill. 2d 387
(1979), People ex Rel. City of Canton v. Crouch, 79 Ill. 2d
356 (1980), and County of Kane v. Carlson, 116 Ill. 2d 186
(1987), that gubernatorial action be consistent with the
fundamental purposes and the intent of the bill, I hereby
return House Bill 279, entitled "AN ACT concerning emergency
medical dispatches," with my specific recommendations for
change.
House Bill 279 amends the Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) Systems Act. It requires emergency medical dispatchers
to use the Department of Public Health's approved emergency
medical dispatch priority reference system (EMDPRS) protocols
to dispatch aid, including non-discretionary pre-arrival
support instructions in emergency situations. The bill
further provides that the Department of Public Health shall
issue certificates to persons who meet the training and other
requirements of an emergency medical dispatcher. The
Department is also responsible for establishing an annual
recertification requirement for emergency medical
dispatchers, including continuing education requirements.
It is my understanding that this legislation represents
the outcome of considerable efforts by various parties
including the Illinois Department of Public Health, to
improve the statutory process for EMS dispatcher
certification and education. However, House Bill 279 contains
two technical defects that must be corrected.
For this reason, I return House Bill 279 with the
following specific recommendations for change:
on page 1, line 30, by replacing "non-discretionary" with
"non-discriminatory"; and
on page 2, line 33, by replacing "EMD and EMD agency"
with "EMS Medical Director".
With these specific recommendations for change, House
Bill 279 will have my approval. I respectfully request your
concurrence.
Sincerely,
s/GEORGE H. RYAN
Governor
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