FINDINGS AND INTENT OF COUNCIL; EXERCISE OF COUNTY POWERS; DEFINITIONS

Jacksonville Ordinance Code tit. VI, ch. 158, pt. 1

in effect

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 158.101 Findings and intent of Council.

Sec. 158.101. - Findings and intent of Council. It is the intent of the Council in enacting this Chapter to assure that adequate and reliable emergency medical transportation services are available throughout Duval County and to assure that such services and their personnel and equipment comply with applicable State laws, rules, orders, standards and requirements in order to achieve an adequate level of proper care. The Council finds and determines that this Chapter is necessary in order to promote and protect the health, welfare and safety of the public. The Council intends for the Fire and Rescue Department to provide emergency primary response medical care and emergency medical transportation services. The Council also intends for private provider ALS and BLS services to provide emergency response under certain conditions, secondary response, and other medical transportation and services as requested by their clientele. In cases of mass casualty incidents and natural disasters the Council intends for the private provider to render mutual aid for benefit of the citizens of Jacksonville where possible. Emergency medical services provided within Duval County shall be accomplished in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. Therefore, in evaluating and considering applications for a certificate, such evaluation and consideration shall be given to such criteria as will ensure an adequate level of care and ensure equipment safety and reliability. It is the further intent of the Council to exercise the full authority given to counties by State law to certify and permit emergency medical transportation services and promulgate a process for ensuring adherence to State law. The Council finds that the referral of patients by a certificate holder to a medical facility affiliated with such certificate holder, or by a medical facility to a certificate holder affiliated with such medical facility represents a potential conflict of interest and may even eliminate viable competitive alternatives, with serious risks of damage to effective patient choice. Such referral practices may also violate State and federal laws. It is the intent of the Council to eliminate such conflicts of interest and anti-competitive referral practices and to provide for and to promote affordable competitive emergency transportation services, advanced life support services and basic life support services to protect and enhance the public health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 97-450-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 158.102 Exercise of County powers.

Sec. 158.102. - Exercise of County powers. In the enactment of this Chapter, the City of Jacksonville is exercising its powers under F.S. Ch. 401 and under F.S. Ch. 162 as a charter County as authorized and provided for under Laws of Fla. Ch. 67-1320, as amended, being the Charter of the Consolidated City of Jacksonville, so that this Chapter shall be applicable and enforced throughout Duval County. (Ord. 97-450-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 158.103 Definitions.

Sec. 158.103. - Definitions. As used in this Chapter: (a) Advanced life support (ALS), basic life support (BLS) and Air Ambulance Service and license therefor shall have the same meanings as are assigned to them by State law. (b) Affiliate means any or all of the following: (1) A certificate holder that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, owns all or any part of, or controls, or is under common control with, or has officers or directors in common with, a medical facility; or (2) A medical facility that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, owns all or any part of, or controls, or is under common control with, or has officers or directors in common with, a certificate holder; or (3) A person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, owns all or any part of, or controls, or is under common control with, or has officers or directors in common with, a certificate holder and a medical facility. (c) Ambulance or emergency medical services vehicle shall have the same meanings as are assigned to them by F.S. Ch. 401, and shall include air ambulances as that term is defined by F.S. Ch. 401. (d) Ambulance driver means any person who meets the requirements of State law as it relates to drivers. (e) Ambulance service means the transportation and emergency treatment of persons who are in need of medical attention. (f) Base of operations means the permanent location in or from which a licensee solicits, accepts, or conducts business under the provisions of this Chapter. (g) Certificate means a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued for emergency medical transportation service pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. (h) Director means the Director of Fire and Rescue Department. (i) Emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) is any dispatcher who has successfully completed a nationally recognized EMD course. (j) Emergency medical technician (EMT) shall have the same meaning assigned to it under F.S. Ch. 401. (k) Emergency medical transportation service (EMTS) means an entity licensed to conduct emergency medical transportation of the sick and injured pursuant to and as authorized by F.S. Ch. 401. (l) Emergency response (primary response) shall mean the response of an ambulance to a request for emergency assistance or transportation for or on behalf of a victim or victims of an accident or illness and which response necessitates the use of either lights or siren or both to expedite arrival. (m) FRCC means the City's Fire and Rescue Communication Center. (n) Medical director shall have the same meaning assigned to it under F.S. Ch. 401. (o) Medical facility means a hospital, physician's office, nursing center, health care system, hospital systems facility, clinic or any other facility as defined in F.S. Ch. 395 or F.S. Ch. 400, offering medical treatment to the general public. (p) Medical transportation means and includes any transportation which requires or may require ALS or BLS services during transportation. (q) Paramedic shall have the same meaning assigned to it under F.S. Ch. 401. (r) Secondary response means the response of a licensed provider called by an emergency response provider already on the scene. (s) F.S. Ch. 401 means the "Raymond H. Alexander, M.D. Emergency Medical Transportation Services Act" as codified as F.S. Ch. 401, Pt. III, as it may be amended from time to time, and shall include all rules and regulations contained in the Florida Administrative Code, which interpret or implement such Act, as such rules and regulations may be amended from time to time. (Ord. 97-450-E, § 1; Ord. 2008-513-E, § 1)

Source: City of Jacksonville, Ordinance Code and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITVIBUTROC_CH158EMNOMETRSE_PT1FIINCOEXCOPODEFetched: 10/27/2026