The medical professionals will have to complete annual firearm safety and “tactical” training under the measure, set to take effect in the US state of Florida from July.

It gives paramedics the same rights as law enforcement officials to use “force which he or she reasonably believes is necessary to defend himself or herself or another from bodily harm” when responding to hostage incidents, drug raids, armed suicidal persons and active shooter incidents.

Similar laws have already been introduced in Kansas and Ohio and are being proposed in Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia, CNN reports.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously signed into law measures allowing teachers to be armed on campus.