Utica, NY – With the workforce sustainability, recruitment efforts, and financial stability of EMS service and volunteer ambulance providers all under increasing strain statewide, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119) highlighted today the backbone of emergency care, our EMS services, advocating legislative support, increased protections, and financial relief for the providers of emergency medical services.

“In an emergency situation every second matters. Our EMS providers save lives around the clock, working tirelessly to continue serving our communities, and they deserve our unwavering support.”

Encompassing the full spectrum of pre-hospital care, from the 911 operator who dispatches emergency resources to the EMTs and paramedics who stabilize patients and administer advanced medical interventions, emergency medical services represent an absolutely critical link in the chain of survival. Often the first on scene in the vast majority of medical emergencies, from strokes, heart attacks, overdoses, and childbirths, to traumatic and industrial injuries, EMS agencies respond to approximately 28.5 million calls for service nationally per year according to the National Association of EMS Officials, the quality and speed of their initial response often being the single greatest determinant of patient’s immediate and long-term health outcomes. Locally, data from the New York State Department of Health indicates that hospital transports by EMS service providers in Central New York totaled nearly 95,000 in 2022 alone.

However, despite their vital role, EMS agencies across the country, and across New York State, are facing significant challenges. Many agencies, particularly volunteer and rural services, operate on thin margins, and provider shortages are severe. According to the National Ambulance Association, turnover rates nationally within the EMS profession are between 20 to 30 percent, with the number of active EMS responders in New York State declining by 17.5% between 2019 and 2022, according to the New York State EMS Workforce Report published by the State Emergency Medical Services Council in 2024. Additionally, over the past decade, the number of ambulatory service providers statewide decreased near 9%, from 1,078 to 982. As a result of the decline, the Workforce Report shows 58.4% of EMS agencies statewide indicated that the decline in number of certified emergency responders diminished their ability to cover calls or schedule shifts, with 52% of volunteer agencies reporting their ability to maintain timely EMS responses in their communities were moderately or severely impaired by certified volunteer staff shortages. Fueling the service & personnel decline, respondents cited inadequate compensation/benefits in addition to relief from demanding hours as two primary factors.

“EMS providers anchor our public safety infrastructure,” said Assemblywoman Buttenschon. “They respond alongside our police and fire departments during multi-agency emergencies, provide medical support at community events, play central roles in disaster preparedness and response planning, and in rural and underserved communities, are often the only advanced medical care providers available within a critical window of time. And when our providers are understaffed, struggling to recruit, that threatens the entire emergency response system.”

Introducing and co-sponsoring legislation, Assemblywoman Buttenschon is advocating a package of bills designed to both bolster workforce recruitment efforts and support active responders, offering much needed support, protections, and financial relief through several legislative proposals:

• (A.708-Buttenschon):Provides direct reciprocal certification to grant NYS EMT certification to any applicant who holds a certification from the National Registry with fee or examination, easing employment & recruitment barriers for new residents and nationally certified veterans.
• (A.516 - Woerner)-Co-Sponsored: This legislation would increase the State volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker personal compensation tax credit from the current $200, to $1,200.
• (A.288-Barrett)-Co-Sponsored: Expands financial relief avenues by providing volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers eligibility to receive both the State personal compensation tax credit and locally enacted real property tax exemptions.
• (A.4679A-Eachus)-Co-Sponsored: This bill would promote volunteerism and give those volunteers an incentive to continue their education by granting three SUNY & CUNY course credits per year for performing volunteer EMT and firefighter training and services.
• (A.644-McMahon)-Co-Sponsored: This bill would provide vehicle insurance discounts for volunteer emergency personnel who have completed the Emergency Vehicle Operator’s Course (EVOC) as part of their training.
• (A.5756-Buttenschon): This bill aims to further protect the health & safety of emergency responders by including spitting on first responders as a criminal offense under the definition of aggravated harassment in the 2nd degree.
• (A.6410-McMahon)-Co-Sponsored: Modernizes and enhances the compensation awards, protections, and benefits awarded under the Volunteer Benefits Law.
• (A.2485-Bendett)-Co-Sponsored: To protect the mental health of emergency personnel, this bill allows first responders who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to request line of duty sick leave.
• (A.3657-Durso)-Co-Sponsored: Would establish penalties against any individual who discharges a firearm at or near a peace officer, police officer, corrections officer, firefighter or emergency medical services professional, with or without malice, is guilty of class B felony.
• (A.4192-Stern)-Co-Sponsored: Would increase the penalties for assault on first responders to a class A felony.
• (A.8592-Dinowitz)-Co-Sponsored: Establishes the crime of reckless endangerment of first responders in the first and second degrees, sets penalties of class D and E felonies respectively.