(a) Every certifying entity shall submit to the authority certification data required by Section 1797.117.

(b) The authority shall collect fees from each certifying entity for the certification and certification renewal of each EMT-I and EMT-II in an amount sufficient to support the authority’s central registry program and the local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program. Separate additional fees may be charged, at the option of the authority, for services that are not shared by all applicants.

(c) The authority’s fees shall be established in regulations, and fees charged for individual services shall be set so that the total fees charged shall not exceed the authority’s actual total cost for the authority’s central registry program, state and federal criminal offender record information search response program, and the local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program.

(d) In addition to any fees collected by EMT-I or EMT-II certifying entities to support their certification, recertification, or enforcement programs, EMT-I or EMT-II certifying entities shall collect fees to support the authority’s central registry program, and the local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program. In lieu of collecting fees from an individual, pursuant to an employer choice, a collective bargaining agreement, or other employment contract, the certifying entity shall provide the appropriate fees to the authority pursuant to this subdivision.

(e) All fees collected for or provided to the authority in a calendar month by an EMT-I or EMT-II certifying entity pursuant to this section shall be transmitted to the authority for deposit into the Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund within 30 calendar days following the last day of the calendar month in which the fees were received by the certifying entity, unless a contract between the certifying entity and the authority specifies a different timeframe.

(f) At the option of the authority, fees may be collected for the authority by an entity that contracts with the authority to provide any of the services associated with the registry program, or the state and federal criminal offender record information search response program, or the local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program. All fees collected for the authority in a calendar month by any entity designated by the authority pursuant to this section to collect fees for the authority shall be transmitted to the authority for deposit into the Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund within 30 calendar days following the last day of the calendar month in which the fees were received by the designated entity, unless the contract between the entity and the authority specifies a different timeframe.

(g) The authority shall annually evaluate fees to determine if the fee is sufficient to fund the actual costs of the authority’s central registry program, state and federal criminal offender record information search response program, and local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program. If the evaluation shows that the fees are excessive or are insufficient to fund the actual costs of these programs, then the fees will be adjusted accordingly through the rulemaking process as outlined in the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(h) The Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. All moneys deposited in the fund shall be made available, upon appropriation, to the authority for purposes of the central registry program, state and federal criminal offender record information search response program, and the local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program. The local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program is solely for the purpose of making reimbursements to local emergency medical service agencies for actual administrative law judge costs regarding EMT-I or EMT-II disciplinary action appeals. Reimbursement to the local emergency medical service agencies shall only be made if adequate funds are available from fees collected for the authority’s local EMS agency administrative law judge reimbursement program.

(i) The authority may transfer unused portions of the Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund to the Surplus Money Investment Fund. Funds transferred to the Surplus Money Investment Fund shall be placed in a separate trust account, and shall be available for transfer to the Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund, together with interest earned, when requested by the authority.

(j) The authority shall maintain a reserve balance in the Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund of 5 percent of annual revenues. Any increase in the fees deposited in the Emergency Medical Technician Certification Fund shall be effective upon a determination by the authority that additional moneys are required to fund expenditures of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 150. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)