SECTION 310:641-3-20. Ground ambulance vehicles

(a)   An ambulance manufactured prior to January 1, 2021 shall meet or exceed the standards established in the U.S. General Services Administration Federal Specification for the Star-of-Life Ambulance (GSA KKK-A-1822) in effect on November 1, 1994.

(b)   A new or remounted production ground ambulance that is ordered or purchased after January 1, 2021 shall comply fully with the ambulance design criteria in either:

(1)   The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services Ground Vehicle Standard for Ambulances (GVS), effective July 1, 2019. A decal or letter of verification from the manufacturer certifying that the vehicle meets the GVS standard, if ordered after January 1, 2021, shall be made available upon inspection; or

(2)   The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1917 Standard for Automotive Ambulances - 2019 Edition. A decal or letter of verification from the manufacturer certifying that the vehicle meets the NFPA standard, if ordered after January 1, 2021, shall be made available upon inspection;

(c)   Additionally, each ground ambulance service vehicle purchased or ordered after January 1, 2021 will meet the following requirements:

(1)   the business name, or acceptable legal abbreviation of the name of the service shall be placed on each side and the rear of the vehicle, and shall be at least three (3") inch high letters,

(2)   A minimum of one Star of Life emblem that is a minimum of three (3) inches in diameter shall be placed on the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle.

(3)   The word "Ambulance", "Emergency Medical Services", "EMS", or licensure level shall be on the sides and rear of the vehicle in at least three (3) inch high letters. If nomenclature is placed on a vehicle relating to a license level as defined in 63 O.S. § 1-2503, the nomenclature must reflect the agency license level of the agency operating the vehicle.

(4)   Ambulance vehicles shall be exempt from the sections of GVS and NFPA specifications which specify color, emblems, and markings except for (c) of this sub-chapter.

(d)   If while waiting delivery of a new, remounted, or refurbished vehicle, a manufacturer or dealer provides a service with a vehicle on a temporary loan or lease, such temporarily loaned or leased vehicle shall comply with specification KKK-A-1822 in effect at the time of manufacture and shall be inspected and permitted by the Department prior to utilization as an ambulance.

(e)   A vehicle may not be permitted by the Department as an ambulance prior to the submission and approval of all required documentation, fees, and a Department inspection.

(f)   The purchaser of any vehicle that is not compliant with this section shall be responsible for corrective action.

(g)   A decal, notice, or other documentation showing the ambulance meets the manufacturing standard at the time of manufacture will be affixed to the vehicle.

(h)   Ambulances purchased after January 1, 2021 by Federal healthcare systems such as Department of Defense or Indian Health Services shall meet one of the following standards:

(1)   The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services Ground Vehicle Standard for Ambulances (GVS), effective July 1, 2019. A decal or letter of verification from the manufacturer certifying that the vehicle meets the GVS standard, if ordered after January 1, 2021, shall be made available upon inspection ;

(2)   The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1917 Standard for Automotive Ambulances - 2019 Editions. A decal or letter of verification from the manufacturer certifying that the vehicle meets the NFPA standard, if ordered after January 1, 2021, shall be made available upon inspection; or

(3)   U.S. General Services Administration Federal Specification for the Star-of-Life Ambulance (GSA KKK-A-1822) Version F with change orders 1 through 10.

[Source: Added at 8 Ok Reg 3143, eff 7-18-91 (emergency); Added at 9 Ok Reg 1495, eff 5-1-92; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 392, eff 11-1-99 (emergency); Amended at 17 Ok Reg 2948, eff 7-13-00; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 386, eff 11-19-01 (emergency); Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1053, eff 5-13-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2368, eff 7-11-03; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2755, eff 7-12-04; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 2386, eff 6-25-06; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1991, eff 6-25-07; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2443, eff 7-11-08; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1529, eff 9-11-16; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 1423, eff 9-11-20]