Delaware Code Title 16. Health and Safety § 9808. Role of county governments

(a) Each county shall participate in the operation and funding of the statewide paramedic services program, and shall provide the Office with all necessary information requested by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services in the time frames and in the format prescribed.

(b) Any paramedic employed by a county or its subcontractor must be certified by the Administrator and the State Paramedic Medical Director in accordance with the standards of the Board. Direct initial training costs shall be paid partially at state expense, based on the results of an annual needs assessment conducted by the Office.

(c) The counties shall be bound by the rules, regulations, requirements and procedures established pursuant to this chapter.

(d) The authority to select, discipline and terminate a paramedic or any administrative staff authorized as a shared expense shall reside with the county or its subcontractor, except that suspension or revocation of a paramedic certification for reasons covered by § 9811 of this title shall be conducted in accordance with this chapter.

(e) A county may choose to operate its own paramedic service using regular county employees entirely, or it may contract portions of its service to other governmental entities.

(f) If a county elects in the design of its paramedic service to exceed the training standards, minimum number of paramedic staff hours, or otherwise exceed the requirements established in accordance with this chapter, the county shall be 100% liable for any additional cost. At a minimum, a county shall deploy the number of paramedics and paramedic units determined to be necessary to meet the operational requirements of this chapter.