(a) There shall be established within the Department of Public Health an Office of Emergency Medical Services. The office shall be responsible for program development activities, including, but not limited to: (1) Public education and information programs; (2) administering the emergency medical services equipment and local system development grant program; (3) planning; (4) regional council oversight; (5) training; and (6) providing staff support to the advisory board.

(b) The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall adopt a five-year planning cycle for the state-wide plan for the coordinated delivery of medical emergency services required by subsection (a) of this section. The plan shall contain: (1) Specific goals for the delivery of such emergency medical services; (2) a time frame for achievement of such goals; (3) cost data and alternative funding sources for the development of such goals; and (4) performance standards for the evaluation of such goals.

(c) Not later than July 1, 2001, the Office of Emergency Medical Services shall, with the advice of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board established pursuant to § 19a-178a and the regional emergency medical services councils established pursuant to § 19a-183, develop model local emergency medical services plans and performance agreements to guide municipalities in the development of such plans and agreements. In developing the model plans and agreements, the office shall take into account (1) the differences in the delivery of emergency medical services in urban, suburban and rural settings, (2) the state-wide plan for the coordinated delivery of emergency medical services adopted pursuant to subdivision (1) of § 19a-177, and (3) guidelines or standards and contracts or written agreements in use by municipalities of similar population and characteristics.