Authorizes the department of health to establish the New York state rural ambulance services task force; requires such task force to conduct a study on the unique challenges faced by New York state ambulance services in rural areas.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1561--C
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again
reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT establishing the New York state rural ambulance services task
force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration
thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. The department of health is hereby authorized to estab-
2 lish the New York state rural ambulance services task force within the
3 bureau of emergency medical services to examine, evaluate and make
4 recommendations concerning New York state ambulance services in rural
5 areas.
6 2. (a) Such task force shall be comprised of individuals with exper-
7 tise in providing emergency medical services and/or providing medical
8 services in rural areas. The members shall be appointed as follows:
9 (i) two members appointed by the governor;
10 (ii) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
11 (iii) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
12 (iv) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
13 (v) one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
14 (vi) two members appointed by the office of fire prevention and
15 control; and
16 (vii) two members appointed by the bureau of emergency medical
17 services.
18 (b) One of the appointments by the governor shall serve as chairperson
19 of the task force.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04499-06-1
A. 1561--C 2
1 (c) The members of the task force shall serve for two years, or for
2 the existence of the task force, whichever is shorter. Members shall
3 receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their
4 actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
5 services.
6 (d) The task force may collect and shall be provided all relevant
7 information necessary to carry out its functions from any relevant agen-
8 cy. Members of the task force shall keep any information received in the
9 course of their duties confidential and shall only use such information
10 in the course of carrying out their duties on the task force.
11 3. Such task force shall conduct a study on the availability of ambu-
12 lance services in rural areas, with a particular focus on the unique
13 challenges they face and their ability to provide services. Utilizing
14 information obtained from such study, the task force shall report and
15 provide recommendations in accordance with subdivision four of this
16 section, which shall include, but not be limited to the following:
17 (a) an analysis of the total number of ambulance services available in
18 rural areas of the state, provided by service type and geographic region
19 they serve and compared to the documented need for such services;
20 (b) assessing current reimbursement structures in place for ambulance
21 services as well as various methods to fund or otherwise raise revenue
22 for such services;
23 (c) assessing barriers that currently exist that may have led to a
24 shortage of available ambulance services to meet the need; and
25 (d) studying any other issue such task force deems relevant.
26 4. Within twelve months of the effective date of this act, the depart-
27 ment of health shall submit a report detailing the findings of the study
28 to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker
29 of the assembly.
30 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
31 deemed repealed 2 years after such effective date.
