What's happening
This bill allows for the creation of special districts to fund and operate ambulance services and requires a state report on volunteer firefighter and ambulance staffing challenges.
Why it matters
Empowers local governments to create and jointly manage ambulance service districts,. which could lead to more stable funding, improved coordination, and greater flexibility in how ambulance services are provided—potentially addressing gaps in emergency medical response, especially in under-served areas.
Applies existing fire district establishment procedures to ambulance districts,. providing a familiar legal and administrative path for local officials and voters, which may speed up the process and reduce legal ambiguities that can delay or prevent new services from being implemented.
Mandates a comprehensive state-level report on volunteer firefighter and ambulance staffing,. highlighting not just statewide trends but also unique rural and geographically challenged regions—this focus could drive policy changes, funding, or targeted recruitment efforts where the need is greatest.
Requires actionable recommendations in the state report to address volunteer shortages,. ensuring that the state doesn’t just identify problems but also commits to proposing practical solutions, which may influence future legislation, budget allocations, or support programs for emergency services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Support Volunteer EMS, Firefighters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to local governments
- 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.
Support Volunteer Ambulance and Fire
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Betty Little
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1577
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JONES, WOERNER, COOK, RIVERA, BLAKE, STEC, D'URSO, CROUCH, BYRNE, MORINELLO, BLANKENBUSH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the establishment of special districts for general ambulance services; and to amend the executive law, in relation to a report on volunteer firefighter and ambulance services staffing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of subdivision 1 of section 122-b of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 303 of the laws of 1980, are amended to read as follows:
(d) Establish a special district for the financing and operation of general ambulance services as set forth by this section, whereby any county, city, town or village, acting individually, or jointly with any other county, city, town and/or village, through its governing body or bodies, following applicable procedures as are required for the establishment of fire districts in article eleven of the town law or following applicable procedures as are required for the establishment of joint fire districts in article eleven-A of the town law, with such special district being authorized by this section to be established in all or any part of any such participating county or counties, town or towns, city or cities and/or village or villages;
(e) Employ any combination of the methods authorized in paragraph (a), (b) [or], (c) or (d);
[(e)] (f) No contract shall 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;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03140-01-9
A. 1577 2
[(f)] (g) Consider prehospital emergency treatment as that care provided by certified emergency medical technicians or certified advanced emergency medical technicians certified pursuant to the provisions of article thirty of the public health law.
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 719 to read as follows:
§ 719. Report on volunteer firefighter and ambulance services staffing. 1. On or before the first day of January two thousand twenty, the commissioner, in consultation with the state office of fire prevention and control, shall prepare and publish a report on the staffing of volunteer firefighter and ambulance services in New York state. Such report shall examine and evaluate the challenges and issues concerning the recruiting and maintenance of trained, available staffing by volunteer fire departments, districts and companies as well as for volunteer ambulance districts and companies. Such report shall specifically examine and evaluate the challenges and issues that are particular to rural areas of the state and areas with geographic challenges such as mountains, waterways or limited transportation networks.
2. In addition to identifying challenges and issues concerning the recruiting and maintenance of trained, available staffing by volunteer fire departments, districts and companies as well as for volunteer ambulance districts and companies across New York state, as required by subdivision one of this section, such report shall also make recommendations on how to address and remediate the challenges and issues identified, with such recommendations being submitted to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate standing committee on local government and the chair of the assembly standing committee on local government at the time of the publishing of the report.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.