Chapter 2.92



EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE

2.92.010 Service charge.
2.92.020 Service charge-Debt of person transported.
2.92.030 Emergency medical services response fee.
2.92.040 Fee to be established by resolution.
2.92.050 City authorized to collect fee by contract.
2.92.060 Fee shall be civil debt-Action to collect.


2.92.010 Service charge.


A. There shall be a charge for each person who requests or who medically requires and receives the benefit of transportation in an ambulance dispatched by the city in an emergency. Such service charge shall be a sum equal to the sum which the city is then required to pay pursuant to any written agreement then in effect for emergency ambulance service provided for the city by commercial ambulance service. Such charge shall be applicable regardless of whether the ambulance dispatched by the city is city-owned or commercially owned. Multiple patient service charges shall be collected, when applicable, but in any event such charges for additional persons transported in the same ambulance shall be those charges which the city would be required to pay to any commercial ambulance service then under contract with the city to provide such service for the city.

B. In the event that, at the time such service is rendered, the city is for any reason not a party to a commercial ambulance service agreement, the service charges for emergency ambulance service shall be those which were in effect pursuant to the most recently effective ambulance service agreement prior to the date when such service is rendered. (Prior code º 17-24)

2.92.020 Service charge-Debt of person transported.


The service charge imposed by this chapter shall be the legal obligation of each person transported pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and shall be payable directly to the city upon presentation of a bill for such service. (Prior code º 17-25)

2.92.030 Emergency medical services response fee.


Whenever one or more employees of the Glendale fire division respond to a medical emergency call there shall be incurred, for each person who receives emergency or medical services rendered by such employees, an emergency medical services ("EMS") response fee. The fire chief (or the fire chief's designee for such purpose) shall have the discretion to waive all or part of such fee, after consideration of any of the following:

A. Whether the call was falsely initiated without consent or knowledge of the alleged subject of the call;

B. Whether the call was initiated by mistake, but in good faith;

C. Whether the persons receiving such emergency or medical services were all part of the same family or household and the nature and extent to which services were provided to each member of such family or household; or

D. Whether a pattern or conduct is present which could constitute an abuse or misuse of the emergency response system. (Ord. 5031 º 1, 1993: prior code º 17-26)

2.92.040 Fee to be established by resolution.


The EMS response fee, authorized by Section 2.92.030, shall be established, and may be amended from time to time, by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 5031 º 2, 1993: prior code º 17-27) 2.92.050 City authorized to collect fee by contract.


The city may collect the EMS response fee, authorized by Section 2.92.030, directly, or it may contract or arrange for the public or private collection of such fee. The procedure by which such fees shall be collected may be established in any written manner mutually agreeable between the city and the collecting agency or entity. (Ord. 5031 º 3, 1993: prior code º 17-28)

2.92.060 Fee shall be civil debt-Action to collect.


The EMS response fee, authorized by Section 2.92.030, upon being incurred, shall be deemed a civil debt owed to the city. Such debt shall be collectible through any lawful means, including court action, initiated by either the city attorney or a contracting agency or entity, or through small claims court, at the discretion of the city. (Ord. 5031 º 4, 1993: prior code º 17-29)