NY A02812

Authorizes counties, cities, towns, and villages to establish special districts for financing and operating general ambulance services, either individually or jointly, following procedures required for fire districts under Town Law Articles 11 and 11-A.

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 Department of Health Commissioner, in consultation with the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, to prepare and publish a report by January 1, 2025 on volunteer firefighter and ambulance services staffing challenges, with particular focus on rural areas and geographically challenging regions.

Requires the report to include recommendations to address identified staffing and recruitment challenges, to be submitted to the Governor, legislative leadership, and relevant committee chairs.