What's happening
This bill authorizes fire departments and companies in New York to charge and collect fees for emergency medical and ambulance services.
Why it matters
Allows local fire departments and companies to recoup costs. By authorizing the collection of fees for emergency medical and ambulance services, fire departments can offset the significant expenses of providing these services, potentially improving their financial stability and ability to maintain or upgrade equipment and training.
Could affect how much residents pay for emergency care. Residents who rely on fire department-based ambulance and EMS could now receive bills for these services, which may impact individuals without insurance or those with high-deductible plans.
May change how fire departments make operational and staffing decisions. With the ability to generate revenue from EMS calls, fire departments might prioritize expanding EMS capabilities, hire more EMS personnel, or enhance service availability, possibly improving emergency response but also shifting department focus.
Requires accountability and contract clarity. The law mandates that collected fees must be handled according to written contracts between fire department authorities and the departments themselves, which could introduce new oversight, transparency requirements, and negotiations between municipalities and fire companies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Fire EMS to Charge
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
12 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to local governments
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Fire EMS Billing
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Betty Little
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3100
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 26, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BRINDISI, STIRPE, CURRAN, GOODELL, DiPIETRO, JEAN-PIERRE, LAWRENCE, BUCHWALD, JAFFEE, WOERNER, ABINANTI -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. LOPEZ, LUPINACCI, McDONALD, McDONOUGH, STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law and the town law, in relation to authorizing fees and charges for emergency medical services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 209-b of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 718 of the laws of 1958, is amended to read as follows:
4. Fees and charges [prohibited] authorized. Emergency and general ambulance service, including emergency medical service as defined in section three thousand one of the public health law, authorized pursuant to this section [shall] may be furnished without cost to the person served; provided, however, that the authorities having control of a fire department or fire company that have authorized such fire department or fire company to provide such service or services may fix a schedule of fees or charges to be paid by persons requesting such service or services. The authorities having control of a fire department or fire company may provide for the collection of fees and charges or may formulate rules and regulations for the collection thereof by the fire department or fire company. When fees and charges are authorized pursuant to this subdivision, the fees and charges collected shall be disbursed in accordance with a written contract entered into between the authority having control of a fire department or fire company and the fire department or fire company itself. The acceptance by any fireman of any personal remuneration or gratuity, directly or indirectly, from a person served shall be a ground for his expulsion or suspension as a member of the fire department or fire company.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00334-01-7
A. 3100 2
§ 2. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 122-b of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 303 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
(e) [No] A contract [shall] may be entered into pursuant to the provisions of this section for the services of an emergency rescue and first aid squad of a fire department or fire company which is subject to the provisions of section two hundred nine-b of [the general municipal law] this chapter;
§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 184 of the town law, as amended by chapter 599 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
1. Whenever the town board shall have established or extended a fire protection district pursuant to the provisions of this article, the town board shall provide for the furnishing of fire protection within the district and for that purpose may (a) contract with any city, village, fire district or incorporated fire company maintaining adequate and suitable apparatus and appliances for the furnishing of fire protection in such district or (b) may acquire by gift or purchase such apparatus and appliances for use in such district and may contract with any city, village, fire district or incorporated fire company for operation, maintenance, and repair of the same and for the furnishing of fire protection in such district, or both. The contract may also provide for the furnishing of (1) emergency service in case of accidents, calamities or other emergencies in connection with which the services of firefighters would be required and (2) general ambulance service subject, however, to the provisions of section two hundred nine-b of the general municipal law. In the event that the fire department or fire company furnishing fire protection within the district pursuant to contract does not maintain and operate an ambulance then a separate contract may be made for the furnishing within the district of emergency ambulance service or general ambulance service, or both, with any city, village or fire district the fire department of which, or with an incorporated fire company having its headquarters outside the district which, maintains and operates an ambulance subject, however, in the case of general ambulance service, to the provisions of section two hundred nine-b of the general municipal law, or with an ambulance service, certified or registered pursuant to article thirty of the public health law[, which is not organized under the provisions of section two hundred nine-b of the general municipal law]. Any such contract with any such ambulance service permitted herein shall be subject to the provisions of this section.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.