What's happening
This bill exempts ambulances that charge fees only to cover actual costs from paying vehicle registration fees in New York.
Why it matters
Reduces operational costs for certain ambulance services. By exempting ambulances that only charge enough to cover their actual costs from registration fees, the bill helps keep more resources available for direct emergency medical services rather than administrative expenses.
Supports community and volunteer ambulance providers. Many smaller or nonprofit ambulance services operate on tight budgets and are not-for-profit; this exemption can help them remain financially viable and continue serving their communities.
Clarifies the distinction between "for profit" and cost-recovery. The bill specifically states that charging a fee to cover actual costs does not count as operating for profit, preventing ambiguity and ensuring fair treatment compared to commercial, profit-driven ambulance companies.
May encourage more transparent pricing models. By making it clear that cost-recovery services will not be penalized, the bill could incentivize ambulance providers to adopt or maintain transparent, cost-based billing rather than shifting toward for-profit structures.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Fees for Ambulance Registration
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
Waive Ambulance Registration Fees
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Brian Kolb
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
532
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to ambulance registration fees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph b of subdivision 6 of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 168 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
b. The provisions of this article with respect to the payment of registration fees shall not apply to ambulances used exclusively to carry sick or injured persons, other than those used in the business of carrying or transporting sick or injured persons for [hire or] profit[, or]; provided, however, that ambulance services that charge a fee to cover actual costs of such services shall not be considered for profit for the purposes of this section. Nor shall such provisions apply to motor vehicles which are especially constructed and equipped to carry lost, strayed, sick, maimed or disabled animals, and owned and operated for that purpose by a duly incorporated society, incorporated for the purpose of preventing cruelty to animals, or to motor vehicles owned or controlled by the state, a city, county, village, town, school district, or fire district or any of the departments thereof or county extension service association or public improvement district formed under and pursuant to provisions of the town law, or sanitary district formed pursuant to the provisions of chapter five hundred sixteen of the laws of nineteen hundred twenty-eight, as amended, or soil conservation districts formed pursuant to the provisions of the soil conservation districts law, or to motor vehicles owned by professional foreign consuls-general, consuls and vice consuls, who are nationals of the state appointing them and who are assigned to foreign consulates in the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02697-01-9
S. 532 2
state of New York, provided that American professional consular officers of equal rank who are citizens of the United States and who exercise their official functions at American consulates in such foreign country, are granted reciprocal exemption, or to motor vehicles owned and operated by the American Red Cross, but in other respects shall be applicable.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to ambulance registration fees
Purpose
To exempt not-for-profit emergency medical vehicles from the payment of vehicle registration fees.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 allows ambulance services that charge a fee to cover only the actual costs of the services provided to remain exempt from paying vehi- cle registration fees.
Section 2 contains the effective date.
Justification
Many localities rely on not-for-profit emergency rescue squads or ambu- lance services to transport sick and injured residents. Many of these rescue squads have operated for years on community donations. With the downturn in the economy and advances in emergency medical services and expanding roles and responsibilities, many of these ambulance services found that they needed to bill for services in order to remain solvent. Simply billing for services to remain whole does not make them a for- profit entity, and as such, they should not be required to pay vehicle registration fee.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.1132/A.5715 Referred to Transportation/Referred to Transpor- tation 2015-16: S.91/A.2767 Passed Senate/Referred to Transportation 2013-14: S.95/A.1562 Referred to Transportation 2011-12: S.3240/A.5484 Passed Senate/Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.