STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8490
IN ASSEMBLY
January 4, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the display
of green lights on the vehicles of members of mobile crisis teams
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph 5 of subdivision 41 of section 375 of the vehicle
2 and traffic law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending
3 the vehicle and traffic law relating to the display of green lights on
4 the vehicles of members of mobile crisis teams, as proposed in legisla-
5 tive bills numbers S. 5397 and A. 5604, is amended to read as follows:
6 5. Green light. (a) One green light may be affixed to any motor vehi-
7 cle owned by a member of a volunteer ambulance service or by a member of
8 a mobile crisis team, or on a motor vehicle owned by a member of such
9 person's family, or by a business enterprise in which such person has a
10 proprietary interest or by which he is employed, provided such member of
11 a volunteer ambulance service has been authorized in writing to so affix
12 a green light by the chief officer of such service as designated by the
13 members thereof, or provided such member of a mobile crisis team has
14 been authorized in writing to so affix a green light by the [office of
15 mental health or the office of addiction services and supports] mobile
16 crisis team's director or similar role, provided further that such
17 director or similar role or their successor may revoke such authori-
18 zation at any time. Such green light may be displayed exclusively by
19 such member of a volunteer ambulance service, or a member of a deployed
20 mobile crisis team, only when engaged in an emergency operation. The use
21 of green lights on vehicles shall be restricted for use only by a member
22 of a volunteer ambulance service or a member of a mobile crisis team as
23 provided for in this paragraph except as otherwise provided for in
24 subparagraph [c] (c) of this paragraph.
25 (b) As used in this paragraph the following terms shall have the
26 following meanings:
27 (i) "volunteer ambulance service" means: (A) a non-profit membership
28 corporation (other than a fire corporation) incorporated under or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08005-02-4
A. 8490 2
1 subject to the provisions of the membership corporations law, or any
2 other law, operating its ambulance or ambulances on a non-profit basis
3 for the convenience of the members thereof and their families or of the
4 community or under a contract with a county, city, town or village
5 pursuant to section one hundred twenty-two-b of the general municipal
6 law; or
7 (B) an unincorporated association of persons operating its ambulance
8 or ambulances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of the members
9 and their families or of the community; and
10 (ii) "mobile crisis team" shall have the same meaning as mobile crisis
11 teams as defined by paragraph eleven of subdivision (a) of section 36.03
12 of the mental hygiene law[; and
13 (iii) "office of mental health and office of addiction services and
14 supports" shall mean the autonomous offices established within the
15 department of mental hygiene pursuant to section 5.01 of the mental
16 hygiene law].
17 (c)(i) In addition to the amber light authorized to be displayed
18 pursuant to paragraph three of this subdivision, one or more green
19 lights or combination green and amber lights may be affixed to a hazard
20 vehicle designed for ice and snow removal owned and operated by the
21 state or by a county, city, town or village. Such green light or lights
22 may be displayed on a hazard vehicle designed for ice and snow removal
23 owned and operated by the state or by a county, city, town or village
24 when such vehicle is engaged in a hazardous operation and is also
25 displaying the amber light or lights required to be displayed during a
26 hazardous operation pursuant to paragraph three of this subdivision.
27 Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be deemed to authorize the
28 use of green lights on hazard vehicles designed for ice and snow removal
29 owned and operated by the state or by a county, city, town or village
30 unless such hazard vehicles also display one or more amber lights as
31 otherwise authorized in this subdivision.
32 (ii) The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regu-
33 lations relating to the use, placement, power and display of green
34 lights on a hazard vehicle designed for ice and snow removal owned and
35 operated by the state or by a county, city, town or village.
36 § 2. The commissioner of motor vehicles, in consultation with the
37 office of mental health and office of addiction services and supports,
38 shall ensure materials are provided to mobile crisis teams for the
39 express purpose of training mobile crisis team members on the lawful
40 operation of a vehicle while displaying a green light as authorized
41 pursuant to paragraph 5 of subdivision 41 of section 375 of the vehicle
42 and traffic law.
43 § 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
44 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the vehicle and traffic
45 law relating to the display of green lights on the vehicles of members
46 of mobile crisis teams, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5397
47 and A. 5604, takes effect.
