NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7670
SPONSOR: Sayegh TITLE OF BILL:
An act 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
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To make permanent the pilot program allowing an individual 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 make the existing pilot emergency medical service (EMS)
recertification program permanent.
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. In 2019 the program was expanded
to include certified first responders and EMS providers in New York City
easing 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 demonstrate competency, and complete the
appropriate continuing medical education requirements. Additionally,
there is verification of the education and competency of the EMS profes-
sionals 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 quali-
ty standards that are needed for the important services they are provid-
ing.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7670
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health
AN ACT 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 Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2 of chapter 459 of the laws of 1996, amending the
2 public health law relating to recertification of persons providing emer-
3 gency medical care, as amended by chapter 87 of the laws of 2019, is
4 amended to read as follows:
5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately [and shall expire and be
6 deemed repealed July 1, 2021].
7 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11293-02-1
