Excludes fundraising from consideration in appropriating state aid and reimbursement for services to volunteer ambulance companies

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Angelo Santabarbara

A 1137 would exclude fundraising from calculations of state aid and reimbursements for volunteer ambulance services, ensuring funding isn’t tied to fundraising income.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Summary: Assembly Bill A 1137

Overview

Bill: A 1137

Title: Excludes fundraising from consideration in appropriating state aid and reimbursement for services to volunteer ambulance companies

Sponsor: Angelo Santabarbara (primary)

Status: REFERRED TO HEALTH

Introduced: January 9, 2025

Chamber: New York Assembly (designated with “A”)

Purpose and Intent

A 1137 seeks to change how state aid and reimbursement for services to volunteer ambulance companies are calculated. Specifically, it would exclude fundraising activity from the factors used to determine the amount of state aid and reimbursements these organizations receive. The underlying goal appears to be ensuring that fundraising income does not influence the level of public funding provided for volunteer ambulance services.

Key Provisions (as described)

Exclusion of fundraising from the calculation of state aid appropriations for volunteer ambulance companies.

Applies to reimbursement calculations for services provided by these volunteer organizations.

Implementation would be carried out within the scope of existing or future state health funding mechanisms (as the bill moves through health committee considerations).

Affected Parties

Volunteer ambulance companies and their operations

State agencies administering state aid and reimbursements for emergency medical services (notably within the Department of Health)

Potential beneficiaries of EMS services who rely on volunteer ambulance providers

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced and referred to the Health Committee on January 9, 2025.

Legislative Actions record shows two entries on the same date, both noting referral to Health, indicating initial committee placement and scheduling for review.

As a health bill, it would need passage by the Assembly (and likely the Senate) and any required gubernatorial action to become law.

Related Legislation

Related/precedent bills in prior sessions include A 2522, A 6797, A 5242, A 9436, A 158, A 3012, A 1622, and A 1103. These indicate a recurring policy interest in how funding for volunteer ambulance services is calculated, including considerations of fundraising or revenue.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Aligns funding calculations with the practical reality that fundraising is a separate revenue activity not intended to determine public aid levels.

Could affect budgeting for volunteer EMS providers and the adequacy of reimbursements if fundraising previously influenced eligibility/amounts.

Implementation details (definitions of “fundraising,” calculation methods, and interaction with existing reimbursement formulas) would be clarified during committee review.

Next Steps

Health Committee consideration and potential amendments.

If advanced, floor votes in the Assembly (and then the Senate) and potential enactment into law.