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State Sen. Donald Douglas (R) of Nicholasville was appointed to an interim session task force earlier this month.

Republican senate leadership recently announced the that Douglas will on the newly formed Emergency Medical Services Task Force.

The task force will study the provision of emergency medical services in Kentucky, which will include consideration of ways to improve the delivery of services to patients and a comprehensive review of governing statutes and regulations, training requirements, EMS vehicle specifications, and the needs—or lack thereof—for the certificate of need process for ambulance services and more.

“The quality and delivery of services to patients is of utmost importance,” Douglas said. “There is a lot that divides people, but quick, effective and reliable emergency medical care is something each person will need at some point in their lifetime. I am eager to review how the legislature can implement better policies to ensure we provide our people the best care possible.”

Chamber leadership said Douglas’ professional experience – he is a doctor – will benefit the task force.

“Dr. Douglas has spent his entire educational and professional career in the medical profession where he has provided services to patients for decades,” Senate President Robert Stivers (R) of Manchester said. “Don brings a great deal of expertise and knowledge to this task force and I am grateful to have him be a part of the collaboration.”

A legislative task force is also known as a special committee. They are established by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (LRC) and function primarily during the interim, typically studying a specific topic. The Emergency Medical Services Task Force is one of six new task forces established to conduct business through the interim session. The task force will report findings to the LRC by Dec. 1 for referral to the appropriate standing committee with jurisdiction over the policy area.