§1135.5. Ambulance services; violations; penalties; fines; notices; hearings; appeals

            A. The opening or operation of an ambulance service without a current license therefor shall be a misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than five thousand dollars. Each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense.

            B.(1) Any person or entity violating the provisions of this Chapter when such violation poses a threat to the health, safety, rights, or welfare of a patient or client may be liable to civil fines and other penalties, to be assessed by the department, in addition to any criminal action which may be brought under other applicable laws. The department shall adopt rules, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, which define specific classifications of violations, articulate factors in assessing civil fines including mitigating circumstances, and explain the treatment of continuing and repeat deficiencies.

            (2) The schedule of civil fines and other penalties by class of violation is as follows:

            (a) Class A violations: If an ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle is found to have been operated in violation of any of the requirements of this Chapter concerning the number or qualifications of personnel, the ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle shall be immediately taken out of service until it meets those requirements, and the ambulance service operating it shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than five hundred dollars for the first violation and not more than one thousand dollars per day for each repeat violation.

            (b) Class B violations: If an ambulance service is found to have been operating in violation of any of the requirements of this Chapter concerning insurance coverage, its license shall be immediately suspended until it meets those requirements, and it shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than five hundred dollars for the first violation and not more than one thousand dollars per day for each repeat violation.

            (c) Class C violations: If an ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle is found to have been operated without undergoing any inspection required under the provisions of this Chapter, the ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle shall be immediately taken out of service until it meets those requirements, and the ambulance service operating it shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than five hundred dollars for the first violation and not more than one thousand dollars per day for each repeat violation.

            (d) Class D violations: If an ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle is found to have been operated in violation of any of the requirements of this Chapter concerning medical and safety equipment, the ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle shall be immediately taken out of service until it meets those requirements, and the ambulance service operating it shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than one hundred dollars for the first violation and not more than five hundred dollars per day for each repeat violation.

            (e) Class E violations: If an ambulance or emergency medical response vehicle is found to have been operated in violation of any of the requirements of Chapter 7 of Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, the ambulance or emergency response vehicle shall be immediately taken out of service until it meets those requirements, and the ambulance service operating it shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than one hundred dollars for the first violation and not more than five hundred dollars per day for each repeat violation.

            C. The department shall adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, to provide notice to the ambulance service of any violation, of its right to an informal reconsideration process, and of the available appeal procedure, including judicial review. Such appeal shall be suspensive.

            D. The ambulance service shall furnish, with an appeal, bond in the minimum amount of one and one-half times the amount of the fine imposed by the department. The bond shall provide in substance that it is furnished as security that the ambulance service will prosecute its appeal and that any judgment against it, including court costs, will be paid or satisfied from the amount furnished. The appeal shall be heard as a summary proceeding which shall be given precedence over other pending matters.

            E. The department may institute all necessary civil court action to collect fines imposed and not timely appealed. No ambulance service may claim imposed fines as reimbursable costs, nor increase charges to patients or clients as a result of such fines. Interest shall begin to accrue on any fine at the current judicial rate on the day following the date on which the fine becomes due and payable.

            Acts 1999, No. 1113, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1235.4 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.