(a) The authority shall establish and maintain a centralized registry system for the monitoring and tracking of each EMT-I and EMT-II certificate status and each EMT-P license status. This centralized registry system shall be used by the certifying entities as part of the certification process for an EMT-I and EMT-II and by the authority as part of the licensure process for an EMT-P license. The authority shall, by regulation, specify the data elements to be included in the centralized registry system, the requirements for certifying entities to report the data elements for inclusion in the registry, including reporting deadlines, the penalties for failure of a certifying entity to report certification status changes within these deadlines, and requirements for submission to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of, except as otherwise provided in this division, EMT-I and EMT-II certificate candidates or holders and EMT-P license candidates or holders for the purposes described in subdivision (c). The data elements to be included in the centralized registry system shall include, but are not limited to, data elements that are to be made publicly available pursuant to subdivision (b).

(b)  The information made available to the public through the centralized registry system shall include all of the following data elements: the full name of every individual who has been issued an EMT-I or EMT-II certificate or EMT-P license, the name of the entity that issued the certificate or license, the certificate or license number, the date of issuance of the license or certificate, and the license or certificate status.

(c) (1) As part of the centralized registry system, the authority shall electronically submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all EMT-I and EMT-II certificate candidates or holders, and of all EMT-P license applicants, for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and state or federal arrests and also information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on his or her recognizance pending trial or appeal.

(2) When received, the Department of Justice shall forward to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requests for federal summary criminal history information received pursuant to this subdivision. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and electronically disseminate a primary response to the authority and electronically disseminate a dual response to one government agency certifying entity.

(3) The Department of Justice shall electronically provide the primary response to the authority and also electronically, the dual response to one certifying entity that is a government agency, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.

(d) The authority shall request the Department of Justice to provide subsequent arrest notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for persons described in subdivision (c). All subsequent arrest notifications provided to the authority for persons described in subdivision (c) shall be electronically submitted to one government agency certifying entity, as a dual response by the Department of Justice.

(e) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the request described in this section.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 274, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2009.)