AN ACT repealing the law that authorizes counties and cities to franchise or operate ambulance services and providing that county officials shall not be required to approve modifications in the level of care provided by ems providers that are not owned or operated by a city in the county or the county responsible for the emergency management system.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 153A‑250 is repealed.

SECTION 2.  Article 13 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 153A‑251.  Level of care modifications.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a county manager or EMS administrator delegated the authority to act on behalf of the county shall not be required to sign a document or otherwise approve of a modification in the level of care being provided by a provider within the county's emergency management system. For purposes of this section, a modification means either an increase or decrease in level of care. The provisions of this section do not apply if the provider is a city located within the county or the county responsible for the emergency management system.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law. Section 1 of this act applies to any franchise agreements or contracts for ambulance service initiated or renewed on or after that date. A city or county with an existing franchise agreement or contract for ambulance service in effect on the date this act becomes law shall not renew that agreement or contract. Section 2 of this act applies to any modification in the level of care occurring on or after the date this act becomes law.