Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assemblyman Steve Otis announced their legislation to direct counties, together with
local cities, towns, villages, and other EMS providers to develop plans to provide coordinated emergency medical services, has been signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. The bill clarifies that the objective of the process is to “ensure that reliable emergency medical services and ambulance services are made available to every person in the state.”

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a vital resource and necessary to the health and well-being of communities
across New York. However, the state is facing multiple crises – EMT staff shortage and retention problems, gaps in
coverage and response times, inadequate funding streams to support EMS services, and the need for better coordination among services within a region.

Under this new law, counties, cities, towns, and villages will work together through a local review and planning process to assess the existing level of emergency medical service, identify gaps, and develop plans to increase service where additional service is needed – ensuring every New Yorker has access to reliable EMS coverage. This comprehensive, county-by-county assessment will provide a strategic roadmap for statewide improvements in
emergency medical services going forward.

“This new law is a critical first step in making EMS as essential as police and fire in every locality, something which
is long overdue,” Mayer said. County plans will be submitted to the NYS Department of Health for comment six months after the legislation takes effect.

“The goal of our legislation is to advance the EMS reform process by asking local governments to work together
to evaluate the status of EMS service in their areas and develop county plans to make sure every New Yorker has reliable emergency medical response,” added Otis.