Senate Bill S7264

                                BILL NUMBER:S7264

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public health law, in relation to authorizing the
commissioner of health to extend the validity of certifications for
emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians
and certified first responders

PURPOSE:
To allow the Commissioner of Health to authorize recertification
extensions for emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency
medical technicians or certified first responders in the case of a
license expiration prior to the next scheduled written examination.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one adds subdivision twelve to Section 3011 of the Public
Health law by authorizing the Commissioner of Health to extend the
certifications of emergency medical professionals who have completed
all of the requirements for recertification but are unable to take
the written test before the expiration of their license. The
certification extension will last until the time of the next
scheduled written certification test, along with any time associated
with the scoring of the exam.

Section two states the effective date.
              

JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, emergency medical personnel recertification written exams
are administered only seven times a year. Often emergency medical
licenses expire in a month when the written exam is not offered. This
law will allow emergency medical professionals the opportunity, if
approved by the Commissioner of Health, to extend their certification
until the next scheduled written exam. It is important to make sure
that the EMT recertification process is as welcoming as Possible for
emergency service professionals.
These professionals are often volunteers who give up their own
personal time with no financial benefit to fulfill the certification
process and to carry out the emergency services that are vital to the
communities throughout New York State. The law will allow emergency
service professionals who, through no fault of their own, cannot
complete the written exam prior to the expiration of their
certification to seek a temporary extension of their certification
that will allow them to continue to provide life-sustaining emergency
medical services while they await the next scheduled examination date.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately upon becoming law.