A08098 Summary:

BILL NO    A08098 

SAME AS    Same as S 4469

SPONSOR    Gordon

COSPNSR    Schimminger, John, Gunther, Gabryszak, Stirpe, Castro, Koon, Lifton,
           Aubry, Zebrowski, Meng

MLTSPNSR   Amedore, Cook, Crouch, DelMonte, Hawley, Hooper, Hyer-Spencer,
           Jordan, Lopez P, Magee, Mayersohn, McEneny, Molinaro, Saladino,
           Sayward, Schimel, Scozzafava, Sweeney, Thiele, Townsend, Weisenberg



Exempts ambulance services from tolls on any highway, bridge, tunnel or other
toll on toll roads within the state at any time.

A08098 Actions:

BILL NO    A08098 

05/04/2009 referred to transportation
01/06/2010 referred to transportation

A08098 Votes:

A08098 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A8098

TITLE OF BILL:  An act in relation to exempting certain ambulance
services from the payment of tolls

PURPOSE:
The purpose of the legislation is to exempt both commercial and
voluntary ambulance services from paying tolls on the New York State
Thruway.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the legislation provides that the payment of tolls on
any highway, bridge, tunnel or other toll road in the state shall not
apply to a commercial ambulance service or a voluntary ambulance
service, regardless of whether or not they are responding to an
emergency.

EXISTING LAW:
Under current law, an ambulance service is exempt from tolls only when
traveling with its lights and sirens on during an emergency operation.

JUSTIFICATION:
In many parts of the state, the New York State Thruway is the fastest
and most direct route for ambulances to travel not only to emergencies
but also to local health care facilities. Ambulance services are
struggling with increased costs, the declining economy, and inadequate
Medicaid reimbursement. To require ambulance services to pay for
Thruway tolls only exacerbates this problem, and often results in the
patient being forced to pay for the added costs. Other emergency
vehicles, including State Police and fire vehicles, are exempt from
tolls - it is only right that ambulances should also be afforded this
courtesy.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.