Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO CONSIDER issuance of new licenses to provide Class 5 - Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services (NEMTS) to B & L Mobility, LLC, C & J Net Group LLC, Helping Hand Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, Inc., Medical Care Transportation, Inc., Sunshine Kids Pediatric Care, LLC (approval recommended), and Executive Ride Transport Inc. (denial recommended).

(Per the Tuesday Morning Memorandum, the Board's consideration of this item is based on the substitute motion.)

ACTION:  (T-11:16 AM)  Approved as amended with Purple-Sheeted Additional Material, dated May 7, 2019, submitted at the request of the Office of the County Attorney.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  9-0.

Pursuant to Chapter 3 1/2-8(f) of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, a Public Hearing must be held to consider the issuance or denial of Class 5 - Nonemergency Medical Transportation Service Licenses.

Provides the Board with an opportunity to receive public comments concerning applicants seeking to provide Class 5 - Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services within Broward County.

Motion to Direct the County Administrator to publish notice of a public hearing on April 9, 2019.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION (ECPD) RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.

Approval of this motion will permit ECPD to issue Class 5 - Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services Licenses to five of the named companies and to deny the license to one of the named companies.

Nonemergency Medical Transportation Service means any service that uses vehicles designed to transport persons confined to wheelchairs or stretchers whose conditions are such that these persons do not need nor are likely to need, medical attention during transport. Chapter 3 1/2 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances identifies the process to which every person, firm, corporation, or association must adhere to provide Nonemergency Medical Transportation Service (NEMTS) within Broward County. This process includes a public hearing to issue or deny the license.

The Environmental and Consumer Protection Division has received and reviewed the applications for a new license (Exhibits 1 and 2) from B & L Mobility, LLC, C & J Net Group LLC, Helping Hand Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, Inc., Medical Care Transportation, Inc., and Sunshine Kids Pediatric Care, LLC to provide Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services within Broward County, Florida. Pursuant to Chapter 3 1/2 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Review Committee of the Broward Regional EMS Council reviewed the above applications on March 7, 2019 and recommends approval.

A new Class 5 NEMTS license application (Exhibits 1 and 2) from Executive Ride Transport Inc. was also reviewed by the EMS Review Committee on March 7, 2019 and the Committee unanimously recommended denial. In accordance with Section 3 1/2-8(e), Broward County Code of Ordinances, staff also recommends denial. The denial recommendation is based on the results of ECPD's application investigation and was significantly influenced by the applicant's past compliance history and financial concerns (Exhibit 3), which include failure to demonstrate insurance coverage, failure to ensure drivers are properly licensed and/or have the required medical training, failure to properly maintain vehicles, operating vehicles that failed inspection, providing NEMTS services without a Broward County license, and multiple instances of outstanding liens.

Jeffery Halsey, Director, Environmental and Consumer Protection Division, (954) 519-1468