Senate Bill S5643A

                                
 
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.