CO Code § 25-3.5-301 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 25 - Public Health and Environment|Article 3.5 - Emergency Medical and Trauma Services|Part 3 - Transportation Subsystem|§ 25-3.5-301. License Required - Exceptions

  After January 1, 1978, no person shall provide ambulance service publicly or privately in this state unless that person holds a valid license to do so issued by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the ambulance service is based, except as provided in subsection (5) of this section. Licenses, permits, and renewals thereof, issued under this part 3, shall require the payment of fees in amounts to be determined by the board to reflect the direct and indirect costs incurred by the department in implementing such licensure, but the board may waive payment of such fees for ambulance services operated by municipalities or special districts.        Each ambulance operated by an ambulance service shall be issued a permit and, in order to be approved, shall bear evidence that its equipment meets or is equivalent to the minimum requirements set forth in the minimum equipment list established by the council and approved by the state board of health. The board of county commissioners of any county may impose by resolution additional requirements for ambulances based in such county. (a) (I)Each ambulance operated by an ambulance service shall be issued a permit and, in order to be approved, shall bear evidence that its equipment meets or is equivalent to the minimum requirements set forth in the minimum equipment list established by the council and approved by the state board of health. The board of county commissioners of any county may impose by resolution additional requirements for ambulances based in such county.    Repealed.  (a.1) Repealed.        The council shall make available to the board of county commissioners guidelines for ambulance design criteria for use in developing standards for vehicle replacement.       No patient shall be transported in an ambulance in this state after January 1, 1978, unless there are two or more individuals, including the driver, present and authorized to operate said ambulance except under unusual conditions when only one authorized person is available.    (Deleted by amendment,L. 2002, p. 696, § 1, effective May 29, 2002.)    The provisions of subsections (1) to (3) of this section shall not apply to the following:   The exceptional emergency use of a privately or publicly owned vehicle, including search and rescue unit vehicles, or aircraft not ordinarily used in the formal act of transporting patients;    A vehicle rendering services as an ambulance in case of a major catastrophe or emergency when ambulances with permits based in the localities of the catastrophe or emergency are insufficient to render the services required;    Ambulances based outside this state which are transporting a patient in Colorado;    Vehicles used or designed for the scheduled transportation of convalescent patients, individuals with disabilities, or persons who would not be expected to require skilled treatment or care while in the vehicle;    Vehicles used solely for the transportation of intoxicated persons or persons incapacitated by alcohol as defined in section 27-81-102, C.R.S., but who are not otherwise disabled or seriously injured and who would not be expected to require skilled treatment or care while in the vehicle.        History. Source: L. 77: Entire article added, p. 1282, § 2, effective January 1, 1978. L. 81: (2)(a) amended, p. 1944, § 4, effective July 1; (2)(a.1) added, p. 1951, § 18, effective July 1, 1984. L. 84: (2)(a)(I) amended, p. 1125, § 45, effective July 1; (2)(a)(II) and (2)(a.1) repealed, p. 1080, § 1, effective July 1; (2)(a.1)(I) amended, p. 765, § 6, effective July 1. L. 93: (5)(d) amended, p. 1664, § 73, effective July 1. L. 2002: (1) and (4) amended, p. 696, § 1, effective May 29. L. 2010: (5)(e) amended,(SB 10-175), ch. 188, p. 799, § 62, effective April 29.    ANNOTATION   Limitation on entities which may license ambulances. Since the general assembly has indicated a coordinated system of emergency medical care to be of statewide concern and has provided a comprehensive statutory scheme to regulate the field, governmental entities other than those provided in this section may not license ambulances. DuHamel v. People ex rel. City of Arvada, 42 Colo. App. 491, 601 P.2d 639 (1979).   To subject ambulance companies to authority of two jurisdictions is contrary to purpose of this act because it fragments the coordinated system and could reduce the availability of service. DuHamel v. People ex rel. City of Arvada, 42 Colo. App. 491, 601 P.2d 639 (1979).