BILL NUMBER: S731
SPONSOR: GALLIVAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to waiving a regis-
tration fee for basic life support first response agencies
 
PURPOSE:
To exempt basic life support first response agencies from the require-
ment to pay a biennial $200 fee to obtain a limited, lab license to
perform blood glucose testing.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 579 of the
public health law to provide an exception for basic life support first
response agencies from the requirement to pay a fee to obtain a certif-
icate of registration for blood glucose testing.
Section 2: Defines a basic life support first response agency as an
agency or organization determined by the department of health to be a
basic life support non-transporting EMS agency.
Section 3: States the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
NYS Public Health law requires that any EMS agency testing blood
glucose, whether by electronic glucometer or chemstrip, be required to
possess a limited service laboratory registration. There is a biennial
$200 limited license fee imposed on basic life support first response
agencies for this limited license. In 2013, volunteer organization were
exempted from this from this limited license fee. This bill seeks to
exempt BLS first response agencies from the fee because often times they
operate with tight budgets, are finically vulnerable operate in under-
served areas. BLS first response agencies would continue to register
with appropriate Health authorities and perform all appropriate profi-
ciencies for blood glucose testing that are currently required.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.4490/A.7605 Referred to Health
2021-22: S.1950 Referred to Health
2019-20: S.3111 Referred to Health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This bill would ease the financial burden on basic life support first
response agencies by reducing their expenses.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S731: 579 public health law, 579(3) public health law, 3001 public health law