§ 11.8-17. Certificate of public convenience and necessity (COPCN).

(a)

No person shall provide care and/or transportation to a person in an emergency medical condition in the county without having first obtained a certificate of public convenience and necessity (COPCN) from the county in accordance with this article and a license from the State of Florida to provide basic life support service or advanced life support service, whichever is applicable. This requirement shall not apply, however, to the use of those vehicles exempted by this article or by state law.

(b)

The following are exempted from the requirement of obtaining a COPCN:

(1)

A vehicle rendering service as an ambulance when requested to do so by the division in the event of a major catastrophe or other emergency requiring more ambulances than are available in the county.

(2)

Fire rescue services rendering basic life support level first response treatment of patients and who are not engaged in the transporting of patients.

(3)

Vehicles used to transport persons on stretchers for routine medical treatments who do not need nor are likely to need BLS or ALS medical treatment during transport. This service is also known as alternative transportation services.

(4)

Any person, organization or vehicle exempted by state law.

(Ord. No. 12-029, § 7, 9-18-12)