NY S02658

Authorizes counties, cities, towns, and villages to establish special districts for financing and operating general ambulance services, either individually or jointly with other municipalities, following procedures similar to those used for fire districts

Requires municipalities that establish or participate in a joint ambulance district to dissolve any preexisting local district serving the same jurisdiction

Mandates the Commissioner, in consultation with the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, to prepare and publish a report on volunteer firefighter and ambulance services staffing by January 1, 2027

Requires the staffing report to examine challenges in recruiting and maintaining trained volunteers, with specific focus on rural areas and regions with geographic challenges such as mountains, waterways, or limited transportation networks

Directs that recommendations from the report be submitted to the Governor, Senate and Assembly leadership, and chairs of the local government standing committees