NY S03039

Authorizes counties, cities, towns, and villages to establish special districts for financing and operation of general ambulance services, either individually or jointly, following procedures for fire district establishment.

Requires any county, city, town, or village establishing or participating 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 staffing challenges for volunteer firefighter and ambulance services statewide.

Requires the staffing report to examine recruiting and retention challenges with particular attention to rural areas and areas with geographic obstacles such as mountains, waterways, or limited transportation networks.

Report must include recommendations to address identified staffing challenges and be submitted to the governor, legislature leadership, and relevant standing committee chairs.