Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Travis Kusman, Director, Emergency Medical Services
Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Subject: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services Agency to Access State and Federal Summary Criminal History Information
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services Agency to access state and federal summary criminal history information.
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BACKGROUND:
Penal Code Sections 11105(b)(11) and 13300(b)(11) authorize cities, counties, districts, and joint powers authorities to access state, local, and federal summary criminal history information for employment, licensing, or certification purposes, and require that such access be based on exclusion or qualification criteria tied to specific criminal conduct identified in the record.
On January 12, 2010, this Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution authorizing the Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS Agency) to access state and local summary criminal history information for Emergency Medical Technician-I (EMT-I) certification issuance and oversight. Review of criminal history information is an essential component of the initial certification process and ongoing oversight of EMT-I personnel. There is currently no authorization to review criminal history information for volunteers seeking authorization through the EMS Agency.
DISCUSSION:
The EMS Agency is statutorily responsible for certifying EMT-I personnel who deliver emergency medical services and authorizing volunteers who support medical and public health preparedness and response activities.
The San Mateo County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a County-coordinated network of trained medical and non-medical volunteers who augment local response capacity during public health emergencies, disasters, and large-scale events. Volunteers may include physicians, nurses, EMTs, behavioral health professionals, and other community members with relevant skills. They assist with activities such as care at field treatment sites, mass vaccination and testing operations, shelter medical support, disaster health response, and preparedness training and exercises.
This resolution reauthorizes the EMS Agency’s access to state and federal summary criminal history information for EMT-I certification and adds authorization for volunteer screening and authorization. Consistent with DOJ guidance, this authority must be established through a single Board-approved resolution. This action enables the EMS Agency to conduct background checks for volunteers seeking authorization through the EMS Agency, including those participating in the County’s MRC program, and supports appropriate eligibility determinations for individuals serving in these roles. The EMS Agency’s existing access for EMT certification and oversight remains unchanged and is not affected by this action.
It is anticipated that by the end of FY 2026-27, 100% of MRC volunteers authorized by the EMS Agency will have completed state and federal summary criminal history verification.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Percentage of MRC volunteers authorized by the EMS Agency that will have completed state and federal summary criminal history verification |
0% |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
MRC volunteers augment local response capacity and may be activated during public health emergencies, natural disasters, large-scale events, and other incidents requiring additional personnel. Disasters and public health emergencies often disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, and as a result, MRC volunteers are a critical component of an effective disaster response strategy for the County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Fiscal Impact as a result of this resolution.