What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program to fund and support collegiate emergency medical services at certain New York colleges and universities.
Why it matters
Targets campuses with large tax-exempt footprints. The program specifically applies to colleges and universities in areas where tax-exempt property makes up more than 35% of total property value, meaning it aims to address strains on local emergency services in communities heavily impacted by non-taxable campus properties.
Seeks to reduce the burden on local emergency infrastructure. By funding campus-based EMS, the bill acknowledges that colleges can disproportionately impact local emergency response resources and proposes a way to offset that through dedicated on-campus services and mutual aid support.
Supports student training and campus safety. The initiative not only provides emergency care but also includes components for training students in emergency response, potentially increasing campus safety and providing valuable experience for students interested in healthcare careers.
Emphasizes accountability and long-term sustainability. The requirement for annual reports—including participation rates, implementation challenges, and insurance reimbursement steps—shows an intent to monitor effectiveness and plan for sustaining these services beyond the pilot phase.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Campus EMS Pilot
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Committee discharged and committed to higher education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1863
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating a collegiate emergency medical services pilot program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 129-C to read as follows:
ARTICLE 129-C
COLLEGIATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM Section 6450. Collegiate emergency medical services pilot program.
§ 6450. Collegiate emergency medical services pilot program. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law to the contrary, and subject to appropriation, the commissioner is hereby authorized to establish a collegiate emergency medical services pilot program at any qualified independent institution of higher education which meets the requirements of this section, upon application by such institution and within limits of amounts appropriated.
2. A "qualified institution" shall mean any college or university chartered by the regents or incorporated by special act of the legislature that maintains a campus in New York; and which is located within any city, town, village or fire district in which the total amount of tax exempt property represents more than thirty-five percent, by value, of the total amount of property in such city, town, village, or fire district.
3. The commissioner shall establish a collegiate emergency medical service pilot program for the purpose of enabling college campuses and universities to construct independent emergency services to offset the disproportionate impact that campuses may have on local infrastructure. The program shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of basic emergency medical services to students, faculty, and visitors of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07691-01-9
S. 1863 2
campus, mutual aid to local fire and emergency services, and training for students of universities in emergency response. The program shall coordinate with local fire and emergency services in order to ensure continuity of service and appropriate provision of care.
4. Within amounts appropriated, the commissioner shall establish a collegiate emergency medical services pilot program at a qualified institution including, but not limited to, monies allocated for training, equipment, and administration. The commissioner shall make grants of no less than sixty thousand dollars per qualified institution in the first year of the operation of the program. Each qualified institution shall be required to submit a report to the legislature by February first, two thousand twenty, which shall include, but not be limited to, documentation of participation rates, any impediments to implementation encountered, steps taken to establish insurance reimbursement protocols, and recommendations to ensure sustainability of the program. Such qualified institutions shall be eligible to receive funding under this section annually for up to five years.
5. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a qualified institution from receiving non-state sources of funding to support the collegiate emergency services pilot program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Purpose
To establish an emergency medical service pilot program designed to enable certain universities and college campuses to construct their own independent services, which will offset their impact on local tax districts.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends the education law by adding a new article 129-C which authorizes the commissioner to establish a collegiate emergency medical services pilot program. "Qualified institutions" are defined as a char- tered or incorporated college or university located within certain tax districts in New York in which more than 35% of the total value of the property is tax exempt.
Such a pilot program can include, but not be limited to, the provision of basic emergency medical services around the campus, mutual aid to local fire and emergency services and emergency response training for students, all of which will be coordinated with local fire and emergency services. The minimum grants for each qualified institution will be $60,000 for the first year of operation. Each qualified institution shall be required to submit a report to the legislature on the program, including information on participation rates, impediments to implementa- tion, steps taken to establish insurance reimbursement protocols, and recommendations to ensure sustainability.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
Justification
Although it is essential that New York continues to recognize the impor- tance of separating certain institutions from the tax rolls, it is also essential that we address certain issues that can arise as a result of this practice. Many local governments and other tax districts have been left to spread the tax burden of a significant amount of property on to a disproportionately small number of people due to the tax exempt status of colleges and universities. Just because property owned by a college or university is not on a tax roll does not mean that it does not require emergency medical service coverage.
By creating this pilot program, New York will be assisting in enabling colleges and universities to pursue establishing their own emergency medical services which can be attuned to their specific needs. Mean- while, the extra burden certain taxpayers have had to cover would be reduced instead of simply spreading the burden over more people.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.2156 Referred to Higher Education 2016: S.7698 Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
Subject to appropriation
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.