NY State Senate Bill 2017-S5643A

Senate Bill S5643A

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Directs the commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner of transportation and state emergency medical services council, to promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of ambulances

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 20, 2018	committed to rules
Feb 27, 2018	amended on third reading (t) 5643a
Feb 13, 2018	advanced to third reading
Feb 12, 2018	2nd report cal.
Feb 06, 2018	1st report cal.371
Jan 03, 2018	referred to health
Jun 21, 2017	committed to rules
May 15, 2017	advanced to third reading
May 10, 2017	2nd report cal.
May 09, 2017	1st report cal.904
Apr 24, 2017	referred to health

Votes

- Feb 6, 2018 - Health Committee Vote
  S5643A
  
  11
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  6
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Health Committee Vote: Feb 6, 2018
      
      aye (11)
      
      Felder
      
      Hannon
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jacobs
      
      Kaminsky
      
      Larkin
      
      Montgomery
      
      Ritchie
      
      Seward
      
      Tedisco
      
      Valesky
      
      aye wr (6)
      
      Golden
      
      Little
      
      Murphy
      
      Persaud
      
      Rivera
      
      Stavisky
  May 9, 2017 - Health Committee Vote
  S5643A
  
  11
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  6
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Health Committee Vote: May 9, 2017
      
      aye (11)
      
      Felder
      
      Golden
      
      Hannon
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jacobs
      
      Kaminsky
      
      Larkin
      
      Montgomery
      
      Seward
      
      Tedisco
      
      Valesky
      
      aye wr (6)
      
      Little
      
      Murphy
      
      Persaud
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Stavisky

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2017-S5643 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7505
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §3011, Pub Health L

2017-S5643 - Summary

Directs the commissioner of health, in consultation with the commissioner of transportation and the New York state emergency medical services council, to promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of ambulances.

2017-S5643 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S5643

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the public health law, in relation
to directing the commissioner of health, in consultation with the
commissioner of transportation, to establish rules and regulations for
ambulances

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

The purpose of this bill is to establish Janet's Law, to help ensure
the safe transport of ambulatory individuals that are being
transported, from or between any health care facility, as well as the
safety of the public during such transports. Currently, there are few
rules and regulations for ambulances, specifically for drivers of such
motor vehicles. This bill directs the commissioner of health and
commissioner of motor vehicles to work in together and establish more
oversight of such individuals.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1: This act shall be known and be cited as "Janet's Law".

Section 2: Amends section 206 of the public health law by adding a new
subdivision directing the commissioner of health, in consultation with
the commissioner of motor vehicles, to establish rules and regulations
for ambulances in order to ensure the safety of passengers and the

public at large. Further specifies the context of such rules and
regulations, stating that they shall include but shall not be limited
to, the minimum age of ambulance drivers, the allowable number of
consecutive hours an ambulance driver shall work, and the requisite
training an ambulance driver shall receive prior to driving any
ambulance.

 JUSTIFICATION :

On March 4, 2015, Janet Hickey of City Island was pronounced brain
dead and later taken off life support after the ambulance she was
riding in crashed. The accident happened as paramedics took her to a
rehab facility in Westchester County after brain surgery. The
ambulance did not have lights and sirens on, but police said the
19-year-old driver somehow lost control, slamming into a pole. A
camera mounted inside the ambulance captured the 19 year-old driver
falling asleep behind the wheel just before swerving off the roadway
and striking a utility pole. Many EMT's and other emergency workers
work long hours and it is not uncommon for them to work many
consecutive 12-hour shifts a week. There is currently nothing stopping
a driver from working a double shift and further no restrictions on
work hours. This legislation establishes the necessary oversight and
regulation to prevent such traumatic and reckless accidents.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S5643 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5643
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 24, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  KLEIN  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law,  in  relation  to  directing  the
   commissioner  of  health,  in  consultation  with  the commissioner of
   transportation, to establish rules and regulations for ambulances

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title.  This  act  shall  be known and be cited as
 "Janet's law".
   § 2. Section 206 of the public health law is amended by adding  a  new
 subdivision 31 to read as follows:
   31.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF
 TRANSPORTATION, ESTABLISH RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR AMBULANCES IN  ORDER
 TO  ENSURE  THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. SUCH RULES
 AND REGULATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE  MINIMUM
 AGE  OF  AMBULANCE DRIVERS, THE ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE HOURS AN
 AMBULANCE DRIVER MAY WORK, AND THE REQUISITE TRAINING AN AMBULANCE DRIV-
 ER SHALL RECEIVE PRIOR TO DRIVING ANY AMBULANCE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09581-02-7

2017-S5643A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7505
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §3011, Pub Health L

2017-S5643A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S5643A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S5643A

SPONSOR: KLEIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
directing the commissioner of health, in consultation with the commis-
sioner of transportation and the New York state emergency medical
services council, to establish rules and regulations for ambulances

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to help ensure the safe transport of ambula-
tory individuals that are being transported, as well as the safety of
the public during such transports. Currently, there are few rules and
regulations for ambulances, specifically for drivers of such motor vehi-
cles, to ensure the physical safety of such passengers and the public at
large. This bill directs the commissioner of health, in consultation
with the commissioner of transportation and the New York State emergency
medical services council, to establish more oversight of such ambulance
operators.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends Public Health Law section 3011 to a new subdivision
directing the commissioner of health, in consultation with the commis-
sioner of transportation and the state emergency medical services coun-
cil, to establish rules and regulations for ambulances in order to
ensure the safety of passengers and the public at large.  Further speci-
fies the context of such rules and regulations, stating that they shall
include but shall not be limited to, the allowable number of consecutive
hours an ambulance driver may work and the requisite training an ambu-
lance driver shall receive prior to driving any ambulance.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

On March 4, 2015, Janet Hickey of City Island was pronounced brain dead
and later taken off life support after the ambulance she was riding in
crashed. The accident happened as paramedics took her to a rehab facili-
ty in Westchester County after brain surgery. The ambulance did not have
lights and sirens on, but police said that the ambulance operator lost
control, slamming into a pole. A camera mounted inside the ambulance
captured the ambulance driver falling asleep behind the wheel just
before swerving off the roadway and striking a utility pole. Many EMT's
and other emergency workers work long hours and it is not uncommon for
them to work many consecutive 12-hour shifts a week. There is currently
nothing stopping a driver from working a double shift and further no
restrictions on work hours. This legislation establishes the necessary
oversight and regulation to prevent such traumatic and reckless acci-
dents.

This bill accomplishes this by having the DOH, in conjunction with DOT
and the New York State Emergency Medical Services Council to establish
rules and standards to ensure that ambulance drivers do not work for so
many hours that they cannot operate an ambulance safely.  Further, to
ensure that all ambulance drivers have the requisite training needed to
safely operate such vehicles and can safely transport such passengers to
their ultimate destination.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017/2018 - Reported from Sen. Health Committee to Senate Floor
2016 - Similar to S. 7799 / A. 10631 - Passed Senate.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
180 days after it shall have become law.

2017-S5643A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5643--A
     Cal. No. 371
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 24, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  KLEIN  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Health --  recommitted  to
   the  Committee  on  Health in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
   reported favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second
   report,  ordered  to  a  third reading, amended and ordered reprinted,
   retaining its place in the order of third reading
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law,  in  relation  to  directing  the
   commissioner  of  health,  in  consultation  with  the commissioner of
   transportation and the New York state emergency medical services coun-
   cil, to establish rules and regulations for ambulances
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Section 3011 of the public health law is amended by adding
 a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
   12. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
 TRANSPORTATION  AND  THE  STATE COUNCIL, ESTABLISH RULES AND REGULATIONS
 FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF PASSEN-
 GERS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE DURING THE TRANSPORT  OF  SUCH  PASSENGERS.
 SUCH  RULES  AND REGULATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO,
 THE ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE HOURS AN AMBULANCE DRIVER  MAY  WORK
 AND  THE  REQUISITE  TRAINING AN AMBULANCE DRIVER SHALL RECEIVE PRIOR TO
 OPERATING AN AMBULANCE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09581-05-8

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