S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6304
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 2, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. GORDON -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volun-
teer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to medical assistance
rendered by firefighters and EMS personnel while such workers are off
duty or outside their jurisdiction or area of responsibility
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. This legislation is designed to protect
the citizens of the state of New York by encouraging the provision of
emergency medical services by trained medical personnel. By offering
firefighters and EMS personnel coverage under the volunteer firefight-
ers' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, this
legislation encourages such workers to continue to assist at emergencies
regardless of accident location or whether they are off duty. Currently,
there is a strong disincentive to assist in an emergency situation if
the location of the accident is outside the worker's jurisdiction or if
the worker is off duty. This legislation will eliminate this disincen-
tive and will do away with the dilemma faced by emergency medical
services workers when they are the first to arrive at an accident scene
while off duty or at an accident scene that is out of their jurisdic-
tion. This bill will also improve the general welfare of the citizens of
the state by improving the availability of trained medical personnel.
S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 5 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit
law is amended by adding a new paragraph q to read as follows:
Q. WHILE, WITHIN THIS COUNTRY, ASSISTING IN EXTINGUISHING A FIRE OR
RENDERING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHILE OFF DUTY OR WHILE AT THE SCENE OF A
FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT THAT IS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OR AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.
S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 5 of the volunteer ambulance workers'
benefit law is amended by adding a new paragraph l to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01709-02-9
A. 6304 2
L. WHILE, WITHIN THIS COUNTRY, RENDERING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WHILE OFF
DUTY OR WHILE AT THE SCENE OF A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT THAT IS LOCATED
OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VOLUNTEER
AMBULANCE WORKER.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.