(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish fees and charges sufficient to offset the expenses of the Emergency Medical Services Division of the County of San Benito in the regulation of all emergency medical transportation services and the emergency medical services and personnel connected therewith in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the county. The section also allows for a provision of an annual adjustment to fees based on the consumer price index.
(B) Authority. Recovery of such costs is authorized by Cal. Health and Safety Code Division 2.5 § 1797.212 and Cal. Code of Regulations Division 9, Title 22, §§ 100171, 100300 and 100083.
(C) Findings. The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Benito makes the following findings:
(1) The Board of Supervisors finds that pursuant to the Cal. Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5 Emergency Medical Services, that some expenses of the Emergency Medical Services Division of this county in the enforcement of statutes, rules and regulations relating to public or emergency medical services require or authorize the EMS Coordinator or EMS Medical Director of this county to perform specific acts, not met by fees prescribed by the state.
(2) Existing state law authorizes the county to levy fees for services related to the protection of the public health, and enacts specific surcharges on certain services which are to be collected by the county and remitted to the state.
(3) The fees for service were reviewed by staff as necessary to carry out the mandated activities and the function of the Emergency Medical Services Division by the State of California.
(4) The fees specified on the schedule are based on the methodology presented in the 2006 User Fee Report received by Muni-Financial for the County of San Benito.
(5) The fees are based on existing budgets, salaries and benefits, indirect costs for services and supplies, and costs associated with providing direct supervision and are attached to Ord. 919 and referenced herein as Schedule A - Emergency Medical Services Fees.
(6) The fees represent a reasonable fee and they do not exceed the maximum allowable fee to be levied.
(D) Definition of services. The County of San Benito Emergency Medical Services Division is authorized under state law to levy fees for services and is legally mandated to perform services as per the Cal. Health and Safety Code and State Emergency Medical Services Authority. Fees pertain to standards and practices established for the protection of the public and applicable to the permitting process for agencies practicing and providing services, and other associated activities as mandated by Health and Safety Code of the State of California, the San Benito Code and other applicable regulatory agencies.
(E) Fees. The fee schedule shall be known as the “Emergency Medical Services Fees” is attached to Ord. 932 as Schedule A and shall be incorporated by reference.
(F) Failure to pay fee. The failure to pay the fee imposed by this section within 30 days after such fee is due shall result by operation of law in the revocation process of any permit for which fees are required by the section.
(G) Annual CPI adjustment. All fees referenced in Schedule A may be subject to an annual fee adjustment in proportion to the percentage change of the Consumer Price Index. The Board of Supervisors may by resolution approve an annual increase, starting July 1st of each year by the percent change of the year ending December of the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), for the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area, but the increase shall not exceed 3% in any given year.
(Ord. 919, §§ 1—7, 2013; Ord. 932, § 4, 2014)