Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board (EMSAB) Bylaws

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EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD BYLAWS

 Last Revised: May 2025

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1 - Name

The name of this body is the Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as “Advisory Board”).

Section 2 - Purpose

The Advisory Board is established to provide for concurrent review of present topics within the Washoe County EMS system by the City of Reno, a municipal corporation in the State of Nevada (“RENO”), and the City of Sparks, a municipal corporation in the State of Nevada (“SPARKS”) and Washoe County, a political subdivision of the State of Nevada (“WASHOE”).

The Advisory Board is established by the Inter-Local Agreement (ILA) for Emergency Medical Services Oversight, executed on August 26, 2014. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to review reports, evaluations and recommendations of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Oversight Program (the “Program”), discuss issues related to regional emergency medical services and make recommendations to the respective jurisdictional Boards and/or the District Board of Health (“DBOH”).

Section 3 - Duties

Duties of the Advisory Board shall include:

  1. Make recommendations to the District Health Officer and/or the DBOH related to performance standards and attainment of those standards, medical protocols, communication, coordination, and other items of importance to a high-performing Regional Emergency Medical Services.
  2. Strive to implement recommendations of the Program, or submit those recommendations to their governing bodies for consideration and possible action if determined necessary and appropriate by the respective
  3. Make recommendations to the respective Boards regarding participating in working groups established by the Program for coordination, review, evaluation, and continuous improvement of Emergency Medical Services.
  4. Work cooperatively with the Program to provide input to the development of the Five-Year Strategic Plan, as it relates to the continuous improvement of Emergency Medical
  5. Support and work cooperatively with the Program to achieve the Program duties as outlined in the ILA.

 

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Board Composition

 The Advisory Board shall be composed of the following members:

  1. City Manager, Reno
  2. City Manager, Sparks
  3. County Manager, Washoe County
  4. District Health Officer
  5. Emergency Room Physician (DBOH Appointment)
  6. Hospital Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Representative (DBOH Appointment)

 Each representative of a City, County, or Northern Nevada Public Health shall have authority to designate an alternate to replace the representative in the representative’s absence from meetings of the Advisory Board. The alternate must be a City or County Assistant Manager or Deputy District Health Officer.

Section 2 - DBOH Appointments

Two positions within the Advisory Board are appointed by the District Board of Health and will serve staggered terms to ensure stability of the Advisory Board. The Emergency Room Physician appointment will be for three (3) years while the Hospital Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) representative will serve a four (4) year term. Both appointees are eligible for reappointment for up to two additional two (2) year terms.

Section 3 - Resignation and Termination of DBOH Appointees

Advisory Board membership may be resigned at any time to the DBOH in writing.

Upon the resignation or expiration of the DBOH appointee’s term, the member shall continue to serve until his/her successor qualifies and is appointed.

Section 4 - Terms/Board Administration

The Advisory Board shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its membership to manage the meetings. The chair and vice-chair shall serve for one (1) year. Both positions are eligible for reappointment for up to one subsequent one (1) year term, limited to two consecutive years. If the chair or vice-chair are absent, their alternates may serve in the chair and vice-chair roles. The alternates may not be appointed to the chair or vice-chair position.

 

ARTICLE III – MEETINGS

Section 1 - Meetings

The Advisory Board shall hold a minimum of one meeting per fiscal year. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the chair or as frequently as needed to perform the duties of the Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board shall be subject to the requirements of Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 241, Open Meeting Laws. A majority of the Advisory Board constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business and a majority of the quorum is necessary to act on any matter.

A quorum of the Advisory Board members must be present to transact business legally – a quorum consists of four (4) Advisory Board members. A majority vote is required for any official action of the Advisory Board unless otherwise specified in the rules of order, which are defined below.

The chair presides over the meetings:

  1. The chair opens the
  2. The chair determines that a quorum is present by a roll call
  3. The chair calls the meeting to
  4. Approval of minutes of the prior
    1. Unanimous consent can be used instead of motions to expedite the
  5. Every meeting of the Advisory Board shall be conducted in accordance with the adopted
    1. The written agenda will be approved by the chair prior to distribution and will be distributed to all Advisory Board members at least three (3) working days prior to the meeting.
  6. The vice-chair, or chair/vice-chair alternates, shall preside over meetings when the chair or vice-chair are absent.

Section 2 - Voting

Each Advisory Board member will have one (1) vote. Proxy votes are not permitted.

Section 3 - Attendance

Consistent meeting attendance and participation is critical to the success of the Advisory Board. Members who are unable to attend an Advisory Board meeting will notify the Chair of the Advisory Board and Program staff. Program staff will record attendance of all members at each Advisory Board meeting.

Section 4 - Minutes

Minutes shall be kept and recorded of all meetings and forwarded to all members of the Advisory Board as promptly as possible following the adjournment of each meeting.

Section 5 - Conflict of Interest

A member of the Advisory Board may not vote on a matter with respect to which the member has a conflict of interest.

 

ARTICLE IV – AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - Amendments

The bylaws may be amended as necessary at any Advisory Board meeting, but will be reviewed at minimum every two (2) years. All amendments requests must be indicated at the Advisory Board meeting as a future agenda item and require an approval of a two-thirds vote for adoption. Amendments take effect immediately upon approval of the Advisory Board.

Approved and adopted on the 29th  day of May 2025, by the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board.

*These bylaws have been transcribed from the original document for accessibility. The full signed document with can be found below and/or requested by emailing emsprogram@nnph.org 

Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board (EMSAB) Bylaws

Last modified on 04/13/2026