Requires all certified first responders, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians to undergo criminal background checks to maintain their certification.
Impact
Implementing S09844 will create stricter accountability and oversight for emergency medical services professionals in New York. By requiring background checks, the state aims to enhance public safety, ensuring that individuals who are responsible for emergency healthcare possess a clear criminal history. The bill addresses concerns surrounding patient safety, particularly in relation to any potentially dangerous history that could pose a risk to those requiring immediate medical attention.
Summary
Bill S09844 aims to amend the New York public health law to mandate criminal background checks for all certified first responders, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and advanced EMTs. The bill establishes the requirements for these background checks, which will include a comprehensive search of criminal history records within New York, as well as verification from other states where the individual may have lived in the past five years. The background checks are a prerequisite for initial certification, renewal, and reinstatement of certification as an emergency medical services clinician in New York State.
Contention
While the bill's objective is to improve safety, there may be points of contention regarding the fairness and thoroughness of the background checks required. Some stakeholders may raise concerns over the implications for individuals with past offenses that could be deemed irrelevant to their capability as emergency service providers. The bill does include provisions about the types of offenses that would automatically disqualify someone from certification, emphasizing a balance between ensuring safety and providing fair opportunities for rehabilitation.
Provides for licensure of emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians and certification of mobility assistance vehicle operators; revises requirements for delivery of emergency medical and patient transportation services.
Provides for licensure of emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians and certification of mobility assistance vehicle operators; revises requirements for delivery of emergency medical and patient transportation services.
Provides for benefits for certain emergency medical technicians or advanced emergency medical technicians in the city of New York who suffer any condition or impairment of health caused by a stroke resulting in disability or death.
Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.
Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.