BILL NUMBER: S1515
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to removing emer-
gency medical services from the limit on real property tax levies by
local governments
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to remove emergency medical services
from the tax cap for local municipalities in order to support local EMS
services.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (g) of subdivision 2 of
section 3-c of the general municipal law is amended by adding a new
subparagraph (v).
Section 2: Effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many communities across New York State are struggling with providing
emergency medical services to their residents for a number of reasons
including rising costs, low reimbursement rates, and the lack of trained
personnel. In addition, independent volunteer organizations are still
unable to direct bill insurance companies resulting in significant
financial losses.
Residents depend on reliable EMS services to be there when needed, but
in many communities that is no longer the case; residents have experi-
enced delays in response times putting their health and safety at risk.
This legislation would remove EMS services from the real property tax
cap, which would allow local municipalities to expand and better support
their local EMS services. This measure is needed in the short-term while
other solutions are being discussed.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - S.5000 (May)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S1515: 3-c general municipal law, 3-c(2) general municipal law