NY A02419

Authorizes counties, cities, towns, and villages wholly or partially within the Adirondack Park to establish special districts for financing and operating general ambulance services, either individually or jointly, following procedures used for fire district establishment.

Requires any county, city, town, or village that establishes or participates in a joint ambulance district to dissolve and abolish any preexisting local district serving the same jurisdiction.

Mandates the commissioner of state services, in consultation with the state office of fire prevention and control, to prepare and publish a report by January 1, 2025 on staffing challenges for volunteer firefighter and ambulance services statewide, with particular focus on rural areas and geographically challenging regions.

Requires the report to include recommendations on addressing identified staffing challenges, to be submitted to the governor, legislative leaders, and relevant standing committee chairs.

Takes effect immediately, with the ambulance district provisions surviving the expiration of related prior law provisions.