Definitions.
Las Vegas Municipal Code § 6.08.020
in effect6.08.020 - Definitions.
As used in this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in this Section have the meanings ascribed to them herein, as follows:
"Advanced emergency medical technician" or "Advanced EMT" means a person who is qualified, in accordance with the Health District regulations as an EMT-Basic and who is also qualified in accordance with the Health District regulations to perform essential advanced techniques and to administer a limited number of medications.
"Advanced life support" or "ALS," whether used alone or as a modifier of other nouns, has the same meaning as the definition of that term in the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR 414.605), as may be amended. Likewise, the terms "ALS1" and "ALS2" have the same meanings as the definitions of those terms in 42 CFR 414.605, as may be amended.
"Air ambulance" means an aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, especially designed, constructed, modified or equipped to be used for the transportation of injured or sick persons. "Air ambulance" does not include any commercial aircraft carrying passengers on regularly scheduled flights.
"Ambulance" means a motor vehicle which is specially designed, constructed, equipped and staffed to provide basic, intermediate or advanced care for one or more:
(1) Sick or injured persons; or
(2) Persons whose medical condition may require special observation during transportation.
For the purposes of this Chapter, the term "ambulance" specifically excludes nonmedically supervised patient transports and special event medical service transports.
"Ambulance service" means the emergency medical care and transport, the non-emergency medical care and transport service, including inter-facility ambulance transport service, or both, which are provided to patients utilizing an ambulance with appropriately licensed personnel. The term "ambulance service" does not include the use of vehicles for nonmedically supervised patient transport service, air ambulance service or special event medical service transports.
"Annual percentage increase" or "API," for any particular annual period, means the increase to be applied to liquidated damages, penalties and service rates in accordance with Sections 6.08.180 and 6.08.190. Except as otherwise provided in this definition, the applicable API shall be calculated with reference to the increase in the CPI-MCS for the corresponding annual period, consistent with Sections 6.08.180 and 6.08.190. If there is no increase in the CPI-MCS or the increase is less than three percent, the API shall be three percent. If the increase in the CPI-MCS is greater than five percent, the API shall be five percent.
"Applicant" means a person who submits a completed application for a franchise as set forth in this Chapter.
"Application" means all written documentation, statements, representations and warranties provided to the City by an applicant, in accordance with this Chapter, to be relied upon by the City Council in making its determination of whether to grant or withhold a franchise.
"Automatic Vehicle Locator," "AVL/GPS" or "AVL" means the automated system used to track or determine the physical location of ambulance vehicles through a Global Positioning System (GPS), on a computerized mapping system that is integrated with the Fire Alarm Office.
"AVL/GPS data reports" means Global Positioning System (GPS) data that a franchisee may use to report that it was "on scene," thereby providing a means to calculate an official response time.
"Basic life support" or "BLS" has the same meaning as the definition of that term in the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR 414.605), as may be amended.
"City Manager" means the City Manager appointed by the City Council to perform such administrative functions of the City government as may be required of him or her by the City Council, or his or her designee.
"Computer-aided dispatch" or "CAD" means dispatching of emergency and non-emergency resources through the computer technology to calls for service.
"CPI-MCS" means the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers: U.S. City Average, Series CUUR0000SAM2, Medical Care Services, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D.C.
"Critical care transport" (CCT) or "specialty care transport" (SCT) both have the same meaning as the term "specialty care transport" as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR 414.605), as may be amended.
"Dispatched ambulance service" means ambulance service that is dispatched by or required to be electronically transferred for dispatch by the Fire Alarm Office to a franchisee.
"Emergency" has the same meaning as that term is defined by the Health District, as may be amended.
"Emergency medical care" means medical care given to a patient in an emergency situation before the patient arrives at a hospital or other medical facility and until responsibility for the patient is assumed by the medical staff at such facility.
"Emergency medical service" or "EMS" means a system consisting of a chain of services linked together to provide emergency medical care for the patient at the scene, during transport, and upon entry at a hospital or other medical facility.
"Emergency medical technician basic" or "EMT basic" means a person who is qualified, in accordance with the Health District regulations to provide basic emergency medical care.
"EMS priority dispatch" means a dispatch system:
(1) Whereby "certified emergency medical dispatchers" give lifesaving pre-arrival instructions to person requesting the same;
(2) Which provides for the dispatch of the appropriate level of emergency vehicle response, A, B, C, D, E, or O as determined by use of a priority card or computer program, based on the severity of the medical emergency; and
(3) In which the different levels of dispatch priority are defined as follows:
(a) Priority Level 1: Specified critical-level Bravo (B), Charlie (C), Delta (D) and Echo (E) calls for 911-dispatched ambulance service;
(b) Priority Level 2: Specified high-level Bravo (B), Charlie (C), Delta (D) and Echo (E) calls for 911-dispatched ambulance service;
(c) Priority Level 3: Specified moderate-level Bravo (B), Charlie (C), Delta (D) and Echo (E) calls for 911-dispatched ambulance service;
(d) Priority Level 4: Specified low-level Alpha (A), Bravo (B) and Omega (O) calls for 911-dispatched ambulance service;
(e) Priority Level 5: Specified medical aid-level Alpha (A) and Omega (O) calls for 911-dispatched ambulance service;
(f) Priority Level 11 Urgent: Immediate transfer requests for critical patients needing a higher level of care at another facility;
(g) Priority Level 11 Scheduled: Non-emergency pre-scheduled transfer request with four hours prior notice from the facility requesting the transport; and
(h) Priority Level 11 Unscheduled: Non-emergency unscheduled transfer request.
For purposes of this Paragraph (3), "specified," with respect to a priority level, refers to call types that are selected by the LVFR Medical Director and designated in a separate document as pertaining to that priority level.
"Emergency medical technician-paramedic" or "EMT-Paramedic" means a person possessing the qualifications of the Advanced EMT and also, in accordance with the Health District regulations, as having enhanced skills that include being able to administer additional advanced life support interventions and medications.
"Emergency response" has the same meaning as the definition of that term in the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR 414.605), as may be amended.
"Financial statements" means audited financial statements of the local operation of the franchised business. Financial statements are to include: Balance sheet, income statement, statements of cash flows, and statement of retained earnings.
"Fire Alarm Office" or "FAO" means the office referred to as Firecom in the Health District regulations which is administered by the City of Las Vegas through an interlocal agreement among the City of Las Vegas, the City of North Las Vegas, and Clark County, or the successor to that office.
"Fire Department" means the City's Department of Fire and Rescue.
"Fire Chief" means the Director of the Fire Department or a designee.
"Franchise" means the authorization granted to a person by the City Council to provide ambulance service within the City's rights-of way, highways, streets, roads and alleys. The terms and conditions of such authorization will be described in a franchise agreement specific to such purpose.
"Franchise agreement" means the written agreement entered into between the City and a franchisee evidencing the City's authorization for a franchisee to provide ambulance service requiring the franchisee to comply with the terms of this Chapter and incorporating such other reasonable provisions as the City Council deems appropriate.
"Franchise Officer" means the person designated by the City Manager to be responsible for the administration and oversight of ambulance franchise agreements and the franchise-related aspects of this Chapter.
"Franchise service area" or "service area" means the geographic area of the City, including any sub-zones thereof, specified in a franchise agreement wherein a franchisee is authorized and required to provide ambulance service.
"Franchisee" means the person to whom an ambulance service franchise is granted by the City Council pursuant to this Chapter.
"Health District" means the Southern Nevada Health District, its officers and authorized agents.
"Health District regulations" means the applicable EMS regulations adopted by the District Board of Health, as they may be amended from time to time.
"Health Officer" means the Health Officer of the Health District.
"Inter-facility ambulance transport service" means an emergency or a nonemergency transport of a patient by ambulance that originates and terminates at previously designated medical facilities or locations.
"Intermediate life support" or "ILS," whether used alone or as a modifier of other nouns, means transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and medically necessary supplies and services that must be staffed by not less than two individuals, at least one of whom must be trained and qualified to the level of an Advanced EMT.
"LVFR Medical Director" means the medical director of the Fire Department.
"Loaded mileage" has the same meaning as the definition of that term in the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR 414.605), as may be amended.
"MDT" means a mobile data terminal, or a computerized device used in emergency vehicles to communicate with a central dispatch office.
"Maximum ambulance service rate" means the maximum amount that a franchisee may bill a patient or other payer for the level of ambulance service provided to the patient, as established in this Chapter, including all ancillary services and supplies used in providing ambulance service.
"Mobile integrated healthcare" means the delivery of patient-centered healthcare in the out-of-hospital environment utilizing technology and mobile pre-hospital resources to address the needs of the community. "Mobile integrated healthcare" may also be referred to as "community paramedicine."
"Mutual aid" means ambulance service provided within the franchise service area in response to a request by a franchisee for assistance from another franchisee to provide ambulance service in the requesting franchisee's authorized service area pursuant to an agreement between the franchisees that is on file with the City.
"Nonemergency ambulance service" means: 1) prearranged non-911 dispatched ambulance service provided to patients with non-life-threatening conditions that does not require the use of lights and sirens, including without limitation nonemergency ambulance service requested at special events and other non-911-dispatched ambulance service requests that would be categorized as nonemergency transfers or level 33-A calls (as that term is approved and endorsed by the Health District) when processed through EMS priority dispatch protocol; or 2) inter-facility ambulance transport service as defined by a franchisee's agreement.
"Nonmedically supervised patient transfer service" means the transportation of a person that does not require any medical supervision, observation or care while en route, as permitted by the State of Nevada Transportation Services Authority.
"On-scene" means when an ambulance unit actually arrives at the specific address or location dispatched with a speed of zero miles per hour, or when the ambulance unit actually arrives at the point closest to the specified address or location to which it can reasonably be driven.
"Performance standards" means response time requirements that are required to be met by a franchisee as specified in Section 6.08.150 in the performance of providing ambulance service by the franchisee.
"Response time" means the time period measured from receipt by a franchisee of electronically transferred information from the FAO dispatch facility or the franchisee's dispatch center on the patient location, EMS priority dispatch code, and call-back number to the time when the ambulance dispatched to the incident or facility arrives and reports that it is "on scene" as that term is defined herein, or when the dispatched ambulance en route to an incident is canceled by the FAO dispatch.
"Rights-of-way" means property dedicated to, granted to, or held or prescriptively used by the City for public street, alley, road and highway purposes.
"Scheduled" means non-emergency pre-scheduled transports within four hours' prior notice from a facility.
"Service category" means the type or level of ambulance service that is specified in a franchise agreement pursuant to this Chapter.
"Special event" means activities such as, but not limited to, sporting events, off-road vehicle races, speedway races, concerts, fairs and parades occurring on a specific date and time at a specific location.
"Special event medical service" or "SEMS" means the providing of medical care to the participants and members of the public in attendance at a special event pursuant to a contractual arrangement between a special event medical service provider or a franchisee and the special event owner, operator, promoter, organizer or any other person authorized to enter into such contractual arrangements on behalf of the special event.
"Special event medical service provider" or "SEMS provider" means a person who has obtained a special event medical service provider business license pursuant to Title 6 of this Code and special purpose ambulance service permits required pursuant to Health District regulations.
"Special event vehicle" means the special purpose vehicle permitted by Health District regulations which for the purposes of this Chapter may be used for the sole purpose of providing standby medical coverage at predesignated special events. Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the term does not include a vehicle which provides ambulance service over City rights-of-way.
"Street" means the surface of the full width of the right-of-way, including alleys, sidewalks and thoroughfares, places or ways of any kind used by the public or open to the public as a matter of right for the purpose of vehicular traffic or vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
"Sub-zone" means a portion of a franchise service area as defined in a franchise agreement.
"Ten-digit request for emergency service" means any telephone request for emergency ambulance service that is received directly by a franchisee from any source, including representatives of law enforcement agencies, which is required to be electronically transferred immediately to the FAO system.
"Transfer of ownership or control" means any transaction in which:
(1) Any ownership or other right, title, or interest of more than five percent in a franchisee or its ambulance service is transferred, sold, assigned, leased, sublet, or mortgaged, directly or indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily, in whole or in part;
(2) There is any change or transfer of control of a franchise or ambulance service;
(3) The rights, obligations, or both, which are held by a franchisee under its ambulance franchise are transferred, directly or indirectly, to another party;
(4) Any change or substitution occurs in the managing general partners of a franchisee, where applicable; or
(5) A franchisee, or its corporate parents at any level, enter into any transaction that materially increases the debt that is to be borne by the franchisee, directly or indirectly, in a manner that will adversely affect users of the ambulance service.
"Transponder" means an electronic device affixed to an ambulance that activates the private access gates located within the franchise service area.
"Unforeseen economic circumstance" means:
(1) That within a given twelve-month calculation period the percentage change in the CPI-MCS was greater than ten percent or less than zero (decrease); or
(2) Another circumstance or set of circumstances which the City Council determines to have had a significant effect on the cost of providing ambulance service.
"Unscheduled" means non-emergency unscheduled transfer request from a facility.
"Urgent" means non-emergency immediate transfer requests for critical patients needing higher level of care at another facility.
"Volunteer ambulance service" means volunteer ambulance service which is authorized and operated under the direct supervision of the Fire Department.
(Ord. No. 6901, § 1, 5-7-25; Ord. No. 6762, § 1, 12-16-20; Ord. No. 6432, § 1, 7-1-15; Ord. No. 6040, § 1, 5-20-09; Ord. 5998 § 49, 2008: Ord. 5800 § 1, 2005: Ord. 5583 § 1 (part), 2003: Ord. 5260 § 3, 2000)
Source: City of Las Vegas, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BUTALIRE_CH6.08AM_6.08.020DEFetched: 10/28/2026