What's happening
This bill expands and extends New York's emergency medical recertification program to include certified first responders and removes its pilot status.
Why it matters
Expanding recertification to certified first responders. means more personnel can renew their credentials through continuing education and demonstrated competence, which could improve workforce flexibility and reduce administrative barriers for those already serving in the field.
Removing the "pilot" or "demonstration" label. makes the recertification program a permanent and statewide option rather than a limited or experimental one, providing greater stability and predictability for emergency medical services (EMS) providers.
Aligning state standards with a national certification organization. could streamline the process for certified individuals moving between states and ensure New York EMS standards remain current with national best practices.
Extending the program’s expiration date. allows continued use and further evaluation of a less burdensome recertification process, potentially aiding retention and recruitment of EMS personnel, which is especially important in light of ongoing workforce shortages in emergency services.
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Who cares
Certified first responders
The bill would let them renew certification without a written exam if they meet continuous-practice, competency and continuing-education requirements.
Emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians
The bill would extend the recertification program’s expiration from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2021, and remove its pilot designation.
Municipal ambulance employees in cities with over one million residents
The bill would remove the provision excluding them from the program.
State health commissioner and State Emergency Medical Services Council
The bill would remove the program’s regional requirement and eliminate the commissioner’s annual reporting requirement to the Legislature.
Headline styles
Expand EMS Recertification Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.87
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.417
- Substituted for A8058A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1526
- Print number 6337a
- Amend (t) and recommit to rules
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to rules
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.
Add First Responders to Recertification
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Nader Sayegh
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6337--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to include certified first responders in a program relating to recertification of persons providing emergency medical care and removing the designation of such program as a pilot or demonstration program; and to amend chapter 459 of the laws of 1996, amending the public health law relating to recertification of persons providing emergency medical care, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2-b of section 3002 of the public health law, as added by chapter 459 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
2-b. The commissioner, in consultation with the state emergency medical services council, shall develop a [pilot] program [in at least six regions of the state (including the western New York and capital regions)] to allow certified first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians who have been in continuous practice, who have demonstrated competence in applicable behavioral and performance objectives, and who have demonstrated completion of appropriate continuing education, to renew their certification under subdivision two of this section without requiring the completion of a written examination. In implementing this program, the commissioner shall contract with and use the standards established by a nationally recognized organization that certifies certified first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians. [However, no pilot program shall include employees of a municipal ambulance service in cities with a population over one
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13115-03-9
S. 6337--A 2
million.] Renewals of certification under the [demonstration] program shall be deemed equivalent to renewals under subdivision two of this section for purposes of this article.
[Within one year of developing the demonstration program and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall report to the legislature on the impact of the program on the quality of patient care, the effectiveness of the program in retaining certified emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians, and the feasibility of replacing the state's certification program with a national certification program.]
§ 2. Section 2 of chapter 459 of the laws of 1996, amending the public health law relating to recertification of persons providing emergency medical care, as amended by section 26 of part D of chapter 57 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed July 1, [2019] 2021.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 2-b of section 3002 of the public health law made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such subdivision, and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to include certified first responders in a program relating to recertification of persons providing emergency medical care and removing the designation of such program as a pilot or demonstration program; and to amend chapter 459 of the laws of 1996, amending the public health law relating to recertif- ication of persons providing emergency medical care, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
To extend for two years and expand the pilot program allowing an indi- vidual that is an emergency medical technician (EMT), Advanced EMT, EMT-Critical Care, or Paramedic to renew their certification without taking a traditional recertification course and the state examinations.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would extend the existing pilot emergency medical service (EMS) recertification program for an additional two years, until July 1, 2021. The bill would also allow EMS personnel in New York City to utilize the program; currently personnel in New York City cannot partic- ipate in this program. Additionally, the bill expands the existing recertification program to include certified first responders into the types of EMS providers that are allowed to participate in the program.
Justification
Many areas on the state have struggled to maintain an adequate number of skilled EMS providers. This pilot program, which began in 1997, was designed to ease the burden of recertification for skilled professionals and has been a valuable tool in helping recertify those serving in this crucial workforce. Currently over a third of eligible EMS providers are being recertified through this program. By expanding the program to include certified first responders and EMS providers in New York City there is the potential to ease the recertification burdens on tens of thousands of EMS workers. In order to qualify for the program an EMS providers would have to be in continuous practice, be able to demon- strate competency, and complete the appropriate continuing medical education requirements. Additionally, there is certification of the education and competency of the EMS professionals by local medical experts, as well as state audits of the program to ensure that New York's EMS providers continue to meet the high quality standards that are needed for the important services they are providing.
Prior legislative history
New Legislation.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.