Increases to thirty-one members the state emergency medical advisory committee of the state emergency medical services council

4 Co-sponsors

• George D. Maziarz
• Patrick M. Gallivan
• Mark Grisanti
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer

BILL NUMBER:S4621A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the membership of the state emergency medical advisory committee of the state emergency medical services council

Purpose or general idea of bill

Increases to thirty-one members the state emergency medical advisory committee.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 increases the number of members on the state emergency medical advisory committee from twenty-nine to thirty-one members and specifies that twenty-three members shall be physicians appointed by the commissioner, and shall include one nominated by each regional emergency medical services council, and an additional physician from the City of New York, one pediatrician, one trauma surgeon, one psychiatrist and a chairperson appointed by the commissioner.

Section 2 provides the effective date of the legislation.

Justification

Under current law there are numerical limits on the size of the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC). One SEMAC member exists for each Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (REMSCO). However, this is currently not true for two of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council members from Western New York. The eight counties of Western New York are home to three REMSCO's: the Southwest Regional EMS Council, the Erie Regional EMS Council, and the Big Lakes Regional EMS Council. These are three of 18 total REMSCO's throughout New York State. Only one of these councils (the Erie Regional EMS Council) currently has a seat on the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee due to the existing size limitation based on statute.

This legislation corrects that inequity, and expands the number of seats by two to ensure that each Regional Emergency Medical Services Council is represented on the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee. The legislative change was suggested by the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC) chairperson.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Negligible.

Effective date

This act will take effect on the 120th day after it shall become law; provided, however, that the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act are

authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.