What's happening
This bill allows Essex County to enter agreements with local districts to jointly provide and fund emergency and ambulance services.
Why it matters
Creates flexibility for local emergency response. By allowing Essex County and its districts to pool resources and funding, the bill could improve coverage and reliability of ambulance and emergency medical services, especially in areas with limited capacity.
Targets funding to service recipients. Property owners will only be charged if they actually receive joint emergency services under the cooperative agreement, ensuring that those who benefit help pay, and others are not unfairly taxed.
Protects local control and existing services. The bill does not force any municipality or district to join the cooperative, preserving autonomy for towns or districts that already provide their own emergency services or prefer to remain independent.
Enables contracting with private or nonprofit providers. Essex County and its partners could contract with outside organizations (e.g., private ambulance companies or volunteer associations), potentially expanding service options or addressing staffing shortages in rural communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow EMS Joint Agreements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S1997B
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.489
- Rules report cal.489
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Print number 4676b
- Amend (t) and recommit to local governments
- Print number 4676a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Allow Essex EMS Cooperation
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Betty Little
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4676--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT in relation to permitting Essex county to enter into a municipal cooperative agreement for emergency medical services and general ambulance services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Essex county may enter into a municipal cooperative agreement, subject to the provisions of article 5-G of the general municipal law, with any municipal corporation, fire district, fire protection district, or ambulance district within the county, in order to finance and provide an emergency medical service, a general ambulance service or a combination of such services, as a joint service, pursuant to section 122-b of the general municipal law, and subject to the restrictions of subdivision 4 of section 209-b of the general municipal law. Pursuant to the municipal cooperative agreement and in the manner provided in section 122-b of the general municipal law, Essex county may contract with one or more individuals, associations, or other organizations to implement the municipal cooperative agreement authorized by this act. The expenses of providing such joint service shall be assessed, levied and collected from all lots and parcels of land within the county which receive such joint service provided, however, that such charges shall not be assessed on any lot or parcel that receives emergency medical service, general ambulance service or a combination of such services from a municipal corporation, fire district, fire protection district or ambulance district that is not a party to the municipal cooperative agreement. Nothing herein shall be construed as mandating the participation of any existing municipal corporation, fire district, fire protection district or ambulance district which currently provides such services.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05893-04-9
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.