Includes medical assistance rendered while such workers are off duty within the duties and activities in relation to which benefits shall be paid and provided

1 Co-sponsor

• Darrel J. Aubertine

Title of bill

An act to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to medical assistance rendered by firefighters and EMS personnel while such workers are off duty or outside their jurisdiction or area of responsibility

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would add certain activities to the duties and activities for which benefits shall be paid under the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' law. The additional activities to be included are the rendering of medical assistance while a volunteer fireman or volunteer ambulance worker is off duty or outside his or her jurisdiction or area of responsibility.

Summary of specific provisions

Specifically, this bill would amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' law to provide that while assisting in extinguishing a fire or rendering medical assistance while off duty or while at the scene of a fire or an accident that is located outside the jurisdiction or area of responsibility of the volunteer firefighter or ambulance worker, such volunteer firefighter or ambulance worker would be entitled to the same benefits provided to such a volunteer if they had been on duty in their jurisdiction.

Justification

This legislation is designed to provide "good Samaritan" coverage to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who provide assistance while off duty and/or out of their specified jurisdiction. It would help to protect the citizens of the state of New York by encouraging the provision of emergency medical services by trained medical personnel.

Emergency medical services workers such as volunteer firemen and ambulance workers possess expertise in assisting victims of accidents. These individuals are dedicated to assisting the citizens of this state and provide an important and invaluable public service. It is in their very nature to stop and help whenever and wherever they encounter accident victims.

By offering firefighters and EMS personnel coverage under the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' law, this legislation encourages such workers to continue to assist at emergencies regardless of accident location or whether they are off duty.

Currently, there is a strong disincentive to assist in an emergency situation if the location of the accident is outside the worker's jurisdiction of if the worker is off duty. This legislation would eliminate this disincentive and do away with the dilemma faced by emergency medical services workers when they are the first to arrive at an accident scene while off duty or at an accident scene that is out of their jurisdiction.

It should be noted that the state of Florida has enacted a similar law with great success.

Prior legislative history

2008 - S.3619: Passed Senate.

Fiscal implications

None noted.

Effective date

This act would take effect immediately.