Referred to: The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee (Chairwoman Hansut and Legislators Clinton, Hewitt, Levine, Maloney, McCollough and Walls)

Legislator Jason J. Kovacs offers the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature has identified the need in Ulster County for expanded advanced life support first responder services and ambulance services and assistance that is not always readily available in Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, NYS Public Health Law section 3008(7) permits a County, through its legislative body, to adopt and amend local laws, ordinances or resolutions to establish and operate advanced life support first responder services or municipal ambulance services within the municipality (directly or by contract); and

WHEREAS, before the County may begin such operation, it must make application to the State Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) and possess an EMS Operating Certificate, and

WHEREAS, in order to obtain an EMS Operating Certificate, the County must make a written request to SEMSCO in care of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS), and must include a certified copy of the local law, ordinance or resolution empowering the County to establish and operate a certified EMS service, a letter from the chief executive officer of the municipality requesting Public Health Law Operating Authority as a certified ambulance service, and a complete application for EMS Operating Certificate, as set forth in the applicable rules and regulations of the State of New York, SEMSCO and BEMS; and

WHEREAS, in obtaining the Operating Certificate, the County is able to explore, identify and, if required as a solution to the EMS needs of the County of Ulster, establish an EMS Ambulance Service for Ulster County (by contract or directly as the case may be most efficient and effective), and

WHEREAS, per NYS Public Health Law 3008(7) it is necessary for this Legislature to authorize the County Executive to apply for the Operating Certificate to the State Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) through the NYS Department of Health Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby authorizes the Ulster County Executive to apply for the said Operating Certificate to the State Emergency Medical Services Council (SEMSCO) through the NYS Department of Health Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:             

Passed Committee: Law Enforcement and Public Safety on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE