Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on May 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of Governmental Center East to consider enactment of a proposed Ordinance, the title of which is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION; AMENDING CHAPTER 3½ OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES (“CODE”); PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS AND NEW CLASSIFICATIONS OF SERVICE; ESTABLISHING A DETERMINATION OF NEED PROCESS; REVISING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY; RENUMBERING CHAPTER 3½ AS CHAPTER 33; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis)
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Why Action is Necessary
Applicable law requires the publication of notice and a public hearing for enactment of amendments to the Broward County Code of Ordinances (“Code”).
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the setting of a public hearing during which the Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) may consider enacting the proposed Ordinance.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
On November 13, 2025, pursuant to Item 79 on the agenda, the Commission directed County staff to review Chapter 3½ of the Code and further directed the Broward Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (“EMS Council”) to conduct a comprehensive review and provide recommendations regarding potential Code amendments. The Commission also directed the County Attorney’s Office to prepare any necessary ordinance amendments based on the EMS Council recommendations.
Following its review, which included two workshops and a Council meeting, the EMS Council reached consensus on several significant recommended changes.
The proposed Ordinance, if enacted, amends Chapter 3½ of the Code relating to emergency and medical transportation services (“EMS”). The proposed Ordinance establishes a new Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“certificate”) classification to promote small business participation in the EMS system, as previously advanced by Commissioner Davis and as recommended by the EMS Council. This new Class 5 classification limits providers to a maximum of seven ambulances and fifteen full-time employees. The proposed Ordinance eliminates the current Class 5 certificate (ALS specialty transport), as the EMS Council found that these transports can be accommodated under the existing Class 2 ALS transfer certificate.
The EMS Council considered multiple proposals, including one to add a classification for providers performing routine transfers for patients arriving by air ambulance at airports or by ship at cruise ports, and another to authorize the Commission to issue certificates by resolution to hospitals that own or operate vehicles to transport patients to or from their own facilities when no fee is charged. The EMS Council did not recommend these proposals, and they are therefore not included in the proposed Ordinance. In addition, the proposed Ordinance removes the exemption that previously allowed hospitals to operate without obtaining a certificate when services were provided directly by the hospital at no charge to the patient.
The proposed Ordinance further establishes enhanced reporting requirements for EMS providers, including submitting unit hours in service, unit hours committed to calls, the number of staffed and available ambulances, and peak demand utilization.
The proposed Ordinance creates a formal, data-driven determination-of-need process to guide the issuance of certificates for Class 2, Class 3, and the new small business classification (Class 5). Under this process, the County will conduct an annual review of EMS system capacity using objective performance metrics, including unit hour utilization, trip-to-ambulance ratios, and population-based benchmarks, along with stakeholder input and other relevant factors. Based on this review, the County will determine whether a need exists for additional service. Upon a determination of need, and at least once every three years, the County will open an application window during which interested providers may submit applications for a certificate. The proposed Ordinance provides for an application window to be opened during the current Fiscal Year.
Applications received during the application window will be reviewed by the EMS Review Committee, which will evaluate each submission and provide a recommendation. Following this review, applications will be brought to the Commission for consideration at a duly noticed public hearing, at which time the Commission will make final determinations regarding the issuance of certificates. Subsequent to Commission approval, but prior to the issuance of a certificate, a nongovernmental EMS provider must enter into an agreement with the County addressing administrative fees, patient rates, and emergency backup service obligations.
Finally, the proposed Ordinance renumbers Chapter 3½ of the Code as Chapter 33.
The Business Impact Estimate (Exhibit 3) will be distributed as additional material.
Source of Additional Information
Adam Katzman, Deputy County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Fiscal Impact Statement by the Office of Management and Budget will be provided at the time of the public hearing, in compliance with Section 18.5.e.7 of the Broward County Administrative Code.