Emergency medical services: first aid training.

Senator Richardson's legislation designates the Emergency Medical Services Authority as the authorizing entity for optional first aid and CPR training programs available to state-employed lifeguards, firefighters, and peace officers in California. The bill maintains existing requirements that these personnel complete mandatory first aid and CPR certification within their first year of employment, with periodic refresher training.

Under the new provisions, the Authority must develop and implement quality assurance protocols to monitor the delivery of both mandatory and optional training programs. These measures aim to standardize training oversight across state agencies while maintaining current requirements that all mandatory training be provided at no cost to personnel. The legislation also codifies specific definitions of "lifeguard" and "firefighter" to clarify which personnel fall under these requirements.

The Authority's expanded role includes establishing policies for optional skill development beyond basic certification requirements for state agency employees, while continuing to coordinate with designated public and private nonprofit training providers. Local agencies retain their existing authority over mandatory training programs for their personnel, with the Authority's new optional training provisions applying only to state-employed emergency responders.