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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2532
critical health information; emergency responders
Purpose
Allows cities, towns or counties to establish by ordinance a central health information program which informs emergency responders of medical conditions, allergies and medications participants may need when participants are in motor vehicle accidents.
Background
Critical Health Information Programs, sometimes referred to as Yellow Dot programs, have been created in certain states to assist citizens in emergency care following a traffic incident that leaves them unable to communicate with emergency responders.
By placing a yellow dot decal in the participant's vehicle's rear window, emergency responders are alerted to check the glove compartment for vital information to ensure that the participant receives necessary critical medical attention. Participants complete a personal information portion in a booklet, which includes the participant's name, contact information, medical history and medications, allergies and the participant's doctors' contact information. A photo identifying the participant is taped in a spot located in the booklet. The yellow dot decal provided in the program kit is typically placed in the lower left corner of the vehicle's rear window or rear driver's side window.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a city, town or county to establish a program to provide emergency responders with critical health information about program participants in order to aid program participants involved in motor vehicle emergencies or accidents who are unable to communicate with emergency responders.
2. Requires a city, town or county that establishes a critical health information program to:
a) include local law enforcement, fire departments and emergency medical services personnel in designing the program materials; and
b) provide sufficient program materials to the public and to state and local law enforcement agencies.
3. Requires the program materials to include the following:
a) a yellow decal with a diameter of three and one-half inches with the words "Saving Lives" in the center, with an optional one-half inch border listing the issuing city, town or county that is to be placed on the upper left of the rear window of the program participant's vehicle;
b) a health information card that provides space for a program participant to attach a recent photograph and indicate the participant's name, emergency contact information, physicians' names and contact information, medical conditions, recent surgeries, allergies, medications and any other information that the city, town or county deems relevant to first responders in the case of an emergency; and
c) a yellow program envelope into which the program participant is to insert the health information and which the program participant is to place into the program participant's glove compartment.
4. Allows a city, town or county that establishes a critical health information program to charge program participants a nominal fee for program costs as determined by the local ordinance.
5. Specifies that a yellow decal that is affixed to a motor vehicle serves as notice to emergency responders assisting in a motor vehicle accident that the driver or any passenger may be a program participant.
6. Authorizes first responders at the scene to search the glove compartment of the vehicle for a yellow program envelope.
7. Allows an emergency first responder to use the information contained in the yellow program envelope for the following purposes:
a) to identify a program participant;
b) to ascertain whether the program participant has a medical condition that may impede communications with the emergency responder;
c) to communicate with the program participant's emergency contacts about the location and general condition of the program participant;
d) to consider the program participant's current medications and preexisting medical conditions when emergency medical treatment is administered for any injury the program participant suffers.
8. Specifies that an emergency responder is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions that do not amount to intentional misconduct or gross negligence in response to incomplete, incorrect or outdated information.
9. Specifies that an emergency responder is not liable for damage to the program participant's vehicle when obtaining information.
10. Defines emergency responder and program participant.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendment Adopted by Committee
· Changes the location that the yellow decal must be placed from the bottom left of the driver side window to the upper left corner of the rear window.
House Action Senate Action
HHS 2/14/19 DP 8-0-0-1 TPS 3/27/19 DPA 8-0-0
PS 2/20/19 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 3/14/19 58-0-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 28, 2019
ZD/HB/gs