[ THEME MUSIC ] WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

WITH ELECTION DAY LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY, CAMPAIGNS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL RACES ARE RAMPING UP DAY BY DAY.

EACH POLITICAL PARTY IS CONTINUING THEIR BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND STRATEGY TO SECURE VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

MEANWHILE, THERE IS A LINGERING QUESTION ON THE MINDS OF POLITICOS, AND THAT IS, HOW WILL CANDIDATES PERFORM IN EACH VOTING BLOCK ON ELECTION NIGHT?

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A VOTING BLOCK THAT IS KNOWN FOR PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO POPULAR SOCIAL ISSUES BUT MAY NOT ALWAYS COME OUT TO VOTE IN HIGH NUMBERS IN THE STATE.

RECENTLY, THE NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP, ALONG WITH OTHER GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS, IDENTIFIED 20 COLLEGE CAMPUSES WITH LARGE STUDENT POPULATIONS, BUT HAD NO POLLING SITES WITHIN A MILE OF CAMPUS DESPITE STATE LAW.

AS REPORTED BY THE "TIMES UNION" THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SAID THAT THE COLLEGES DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLDS OF 300 REGISTERED VOTERS.

TO UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS AROUND THE REPORT, WE SAT DOWN WITH BLAIR HORNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, BLAIR.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE REPORTING FROM GOOD GOVERNMENT GROUPS THAT FOUND THAT 20 COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE STATE WITH A SIGNIFICANT STUDENT POPULATION DID NOT HAVE A POLLING SITE ON THEIR CAMPUS?

YEAH.

WE LOOKED AT IT-- THERE'S A LAW THAT WAS PUT IN THE BOOKS, 1922 THAT SAID THAT EVERY COLLEGE THAT 300 REGISTERED VOTERS LIVING ON CAMPUS, OR MORE, HAD TO HAVE A POLLING SITE EITHER ON THE CAMPUS OR THEY SAY, ADJACENT TO THE CAMPUS.

SO WE WERE LOOKING-- THIS WAS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF SORT OF REACTIONS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE TO SEE HOW THE LAW WAS WORKING OUT AND WE COULD GO INTO THIS MORE, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED IN 2022, WE DIDN'T NOTICE ANY INCREASE IN COLLEGE STUDENT VOTER TURNOUT.

WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY.

SO ARE THERE POLLING PLACES THERE WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE WANTED TO ASK, AND THE ANALYSIS THAT WE FOUND IS THAT WE LOOKED AT OUR CRITERIA WHERE COLLEGES THAT HAD A THOUSAND STUDENTS OR MORE, UNDERGRADUATES, AND DID NOT HAVE A POLLING PLACE WITHIN A MILE OF THE CAMPUS, WHAT ARE THOSE COLLEGES?

AND THEN WE SENT-- THAT'S WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THE NUMBER.

THIS 24-YEAR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES THAT WERE IN THAT CATEGORY AND THERE WERE ACTUALLY SIX COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS WELL, SO THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT FELL OUTSIDE.

WE SENT A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND WE SAID WHY IS THIS AND IF THEY SHOULD HAVE A POLLING SITE, PLEASE PUT ONE ON THERE.

THIS WAS THE RATIONALE FOR LOOKING AT IT WAS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE YOUTH ADULT VOTE, YOUNG ADULT VOTE, AND THEN WHAT COULD BE DONE BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IF THERE'S A PROBLEM.

HOW CONSEQUENTIAL IS A FINDING LIKE THIS TO AN ELECTION, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR WHERE WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, AN UNPRECEDENTED PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND ALSO SO MANY COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES THIS YEAR RUNNING THROUGH NEW YORK?

YEAH.

I MEAN, WE LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE 18 TO 24-YEAR-OLD YOUNG ADULTS ARE THE LEAST LIKELY ADULT GROUP TO VOTE.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT HISTORICALLY GOING BACK TO 1972 WHICH WAS THE FIRST YEAR AFTER THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS PASSED THAT 18-YEAR-OLDS HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THEY ARE ALWAYS THE LOWEST AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE THE SYSTEM-- FOR OLDER ADULTS, THEY HAVE SORT OF MUSCLE MEMORY ABOUT HOW TO VOTE.

THEY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND YOUNGEST ADULTS DON'T.

SO WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES BEYOND JUST THE FACT THAT IT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE EVER DONE IT?

SO WE LOOKED HISTORICALLY AT VOTER REGISTRATION.

WE'VE LOOKED AT THE POLLING PLACES.

WE LOOKED AT THE ABILITY TO GET INFORMATION.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT ALL THE STUFF.

WE'VE BEEN KEENLY INTERESTED IN IT.

AND IF YOUNG PEOPLE SHOW UP, THEY CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE WAS AN UPTICK DURING THE OBAMA YEARS AND SOME ARGUED THAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF THE STATES WHERE OBAMA WON.

IN NEW YORK, I MEAN, MOST PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT THAT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, DONALD TRUMP, WILL CARRY NEW YORK.

THE LAST TIME A REPUBLICAN CARRIED NEW YORK WAS 2002.

THAT WAS GEORGE PATAKI, BUT THE BATTLEGROUND CONGRESSIONAL RACE, A WHOLE BUN OF THEM IN NEW YORK.

THERE'S FIVE THAT POLITICAL REPORTS THAT ARE IN PLAY AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS.

THE BIGGEST ONE BEING REPRESENTATIVE MOLINARO'S DISTRICT WHERE WE CALCULATED 85,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE IN THAT DISTRICT.

NOW THEY DON'T ALL VOTE.

THEY DON'T ALL LIVE THERE.

SOME OF THEM MAY COME IN FROM OUT OF STATE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THE CORNELL STUDENTS VIEW THEMSELVES AS NEW YORKERS, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT THEY COULD ALL REGISTER TO VOTE IN NEW YORK AND THEY COULD VOTE IN NEW YORK, AND THAT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

IT MAY NOT, BUT IT MIGHT.

WE THINK IT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE FIVE BATTLEGROUND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK IF THE STUDENTS SHOW UP.

AS REPORTED BY THE TIMES UNION, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS CAME OUT AND SAID THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, NOT ALL OF THEM MET THE THRESHOLD OF HAVING 300 REGISTERED VOTERS ON CAMPUS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE 300 SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY LOW NUMBER.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR RESPONSE.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SAID THAT ALL 20 OF THE 4-YEAR COLLEGES THAT WE IDENTIFIED DID NOT HAVE 300 VOTERS REGISTERED AND LIVING ON CAMPUS.

NOW, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THAT COULD BE TRUE.

WE COULD NOT TELL THAT.

YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL.

WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE LIST OF ALL THE COLLEGE STUDENTS AT EVERY SCHOOL AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MATCH THEM UP WITH WHERE THEY'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE THAT WE LOOKED AT.

WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, ARE THERE A THOUSAND UNDERGRADUATES OR MORE AND IS THE POLLING PLACE WITHIN A MILE?

I MEAN, I AGREE WITH YOU.

I AM SKEPTICAL THAT IT IS-- BUT IT COULD BE TRUE.

IF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT REGISTERED-- GETTING REGISTERED TO VOTE, IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEY CAN REGISTER FROM THE CAMPUS ADDRESS, IF THEY'RE TOLD THEY CAN'T REGISTER FROM THE CAMPUS ADDRESS.

THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS WHY IT COULD BE TRUE.

WE DO KNOW FROM ONE COMMUNICATION WITH ONE COLLEGE THAT THEY TOLD US THAT THE REASON THEY DIDN'T HAVE A POLLING PLACE IS BECAUSE THE LOCAL COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TOLD THEM THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SUITABLE LOCATION ON CAMPUS, WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF IS SURPRISING, BUT THAT WAS THE REASON.

NOT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE 300 AND THEY WERE 1 OF THE 20.

WE DON'T REALLY MOW WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND IF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS CORRECT, BECAUSE ASSUME THEY RELIED ON THE COUNTIES TELLING THEM.

I THINK THEY DIDN'T DO A STUDY ON THEIR OWN, BUT MAYBE THEY DID.

SO THAT IS A IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT THEY'RE RIGHT.

WE FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IF THEY'RE RIGHT, AND IF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS RIGHT, I THINK IT CRIES OUT FOR POLICY INTERVENTION BY LAWMAKERS BECAUSE THERE'S A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IF THAT'S TRUE.

YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ON CAMPUS AND FOR YOUR VIEWERS, WHO DON'T HAVE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THEIR FAMILIES, TYPICALLY THE FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE ON CAMPUS THAT HAS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND NOT 300 OF THEM ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE FROM THEIR CAMPUS ADDRESS, THERE HAS TO BE A REASON WHY THAT IS THE CASE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT REASON IS.

IS THERE ANY PLAN TO CHECK WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS CLAIMING?

THAT'S NOT EVEN A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

THAT'S A NEEDLE IS LOTS OF HAYSTACKS.

I MEAN, THAT'S AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, YOU WOULD NEED TO YOU'LL HAVE AFTER THE NAMES OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT THE AT A PARTICULAR CAMPUS AND LOOK AT THE ADDRESSES TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY IT, BUT WE THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HOLD HEARINGS ON THE YOUTH VOTE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN 2024 BECAUSE THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THERE'S A REASON.

IT COULD BE THEIR CHOICE, OF COURSE, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE THAT THE OBSTACLES THAT THE STATE HAS IN PLACE AND NEW YORK HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE AND SO IF STUDENTS AREN'T VOTING AND THERE'S AN OBSTACLE, A POLICY OBSTACLE AS TO WHY, THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

WE KNOW THIS ISN'T, OF COURSE, THE FIRST REPORT.

THERE WAS A REPORT BACK IN MAY THAT FOUND THAT THERE WERE OVER 90 COLLEGE CAMPUSES THAT PROVIDED STUDENT HOUSING, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY POLLING SITES AND OF COURSE, THIS WAS BEFORE THE PRIMARY.

SO CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

YEAH.

WE LOOKED AT THE ISSUE TWICE.

ONCE RIGHT BEFORE THE PRIMARIES AND ONCE RIGHT BEFORE THE GENERAL.

THE ANALYSIS BEFORE THE PRIMARY WAS TO SAY, WELL, WE LOOKED AT ALL THE PRIMARY LISTS AND THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS MAKES PUBLIC ALL OF THE POLLING PLACES IN THE STATE.

SO IN BOTH CASES, WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THEM AND WE SAID, WELL, HOW MANY OF THEM ARE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES?

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE ADDRESSES AND YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

IT'S A PAIN IN THE NECK, BUT YOU CAN DO IT.

IN BOTH CASES, WE SAID AND THERE ARE COLLEGES THAT DON'T HAVE POLLING PLACES, AND THEY SHOULD, THEN THE NEW STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO.

THE 97 THAT WE FOUND IN MAY WAS THE CRITERIA WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

DID THEY HAVE DORMS?

DID THEY HAVE STUDENTS LIVING IN THE DORMS?

AND DID THEY HAVE POLLING PLACES WITHIN A TENTH OF A MILE?

BECAUSE THE LAW SAYS LIVING ON CAMPUS OR ADJACENT TO THE CAMPUS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POLLING PLACE IF YOU HAVE 300 REGISTERED VOTERS OR MORE.

WE FOUND 97.

THE ONE THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE FALL WAS TO LOOK AT A FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE SPRING TO SEE WHAT HAD CHANGED.

VERY LITTLE HAD, AND WE USED THIS MORE CONSERVATIVE CRITERIA, UNDERGRADUATES OF A THOUSAND OR MORE LIVING ON CAMPUS OR A THOUSAND MORE UNDERGRADUATES DORMS ON CAMPUS AND THE POLLING PLACE WITHIN A MILE, NOT A TENTH OF A MILE.

THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME THING THAT WE FOUND.

IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OTHER ANALYSES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO LOOK AT THIS.

ARE THERE PLANS IT LOOK AT THE DATA AFTER THE ELECTIONS TO SEE HOW MANY VOTERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 TO 24 WERE CASTING BALLOTS?

IT'S A SUPER HARD PROJECT TO DO.

THE TIMES UNION DID AN ANALYSIS AFTER THE 2022 ELECTION, AND THAT'S HOW WE KNEW THAT THE NEEDLE HADN'T MOVED ON YOUTH VOTE PARTICIPATION IN THE 2022 ELECTION, WHICH WAS A SURPRISE TO US.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT THERE, WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH VOTER REGISTRATION?

WE LOOKED AT THE UPSTATE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SCHOOLS AND ALL THE SCHOOLS, SOME DID A GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF LETTING STUDENTS KNOW ON THEIR WEBSITES HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

SOME DIDN'T DO AS GOOD OF A JOB, IN OUR OPINION.

IT COULD WELL BE THAT THE APPROACH OF THE COLLEGES TO REGISTERING YOUNG PEOPLE IS INADEQUATE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING LAWMAKERS TO HOLD HEARINGS ON THIS.

I KNOW THERE WERE A FEW LAWMAKERS THAT SIGNED ONTO THE LETTER TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND LIKE, WHAT WAS THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS, OR JUST GETTING THEM ONBOARD TO SIGN?

THE LETTER WAS FROM THE GROUPS.

WE HAD COPIED THE CHAIRS OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE AND THE SPONSORS OF THE ORIGINAL BILL.

I MEAN, WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS BILL FOR YEARS AND IT WAS FINALLY DONE IN THE BUDGET IN 2022.

SO FOR THOSE PARTICULAR LAWMAKERS, WE WANTED THEM TO BE ENGAGED AND WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST ASSEMBLY MEMBER WALKER, WHO CHAIRS THE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEE, HAD WRITTEN A SEPARATE LETTER TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SAYING, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE HEARINGS, I BELIEVE, ON THE 2024 ELECTION.

ONE OF THE ISSUES IS HOW DID THE NEW PUBLIC FINANCING SYSTEM WORK?

THERE'S GOING TO BE HEARINGS ON THAT.

SO WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN TERMS OF VOTER PARTICIPATION, THAT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE AS WELL.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL VOTE IN NEW YORK.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT WITH EASE AND TO DO IT ACCURATELY AND TIMELY AND IF THERE ARE POLICIES THAT MAKE THAT HARD TO DO, THEN THOSE POLICIES HAVE TO BE CHANGED.

LASTLY, AS LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO HEAD BACK TO THE CAPITAL REGION FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HOW ARE YOU HOPING TO ADDRESS THIS LEGISLATIVELY?

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE HEARINGS, BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT?

I MEAN, THERE'S-- THE HEARINGS WOULD BE A FIRST STEP, RIGHT?

WE DON'T-- THERE'S SO MUCH WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE COLLEGES DO VOTER REGISTRATION.

WE DON'T KNOW DO THE COLLEGES TELL THE STUDENTS THEY CAN REGISTER FROM THEIR CAMPUS ADDRESSES.

WE DON'T KNOW THE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS AND THE COLLEGES.

SO THERE'S BIG PIECES WE DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHY WE THINK THE HEARINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE FIRST IS LET'S SEE HOW MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED BECAUSE THAT MAY DRIVE THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SOME OF THEM WOULD WANT GOING FORWARD.

JUST DEFINING WHAT, YOU KNOW, HOW CLOSE THE POLLING SITE HAS TO BE TO A CAMPUS IF IT'S IN THE ON THE CAMPUS, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WE MAY BE LOOKING-- WE MAY END UP LOOKING AT-- FROM TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES, WE MAY LOOK AT LEGISLATION THAT LOOKS MORE BROADLY AT THE ISSUE OF CIVIL ENGAGEMENT BY YOUNG ADULTS AS COMPARED TO JUST THE NARROW ISSUE OF WHERE THE POLLING SITES SHOULD BE LOCATED IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON CAMPUS.

WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY, BLAIR.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH BLAIR HORNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POLLING SITES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND UPDATES AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SIGNED LEGISLATION MEANT TO SUPPORT THE WORKING DONE BY EMS WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE NEW LAW WILL ALLOW FOR EMS WORKERS TO RECEIVE A MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR ON-SCENE TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION TO HEALTH CARE CENTERS AND VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS.

IN THE NEXT SEGMENT, REPORTER ELISE KLINE DOVE INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW AND SPOKE WITH STATE LAWMAKERS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE HOPING TO BUILD ON ITS IMPACT HEADING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] A NEW LAW SIGNED BY GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL WILL BRING CHANGES TO MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

UNDER THE CURRENT LAW WHEN RESPONDING TO A 911 CALL, EMS SERVICES ARE REQUIRED TO TRANSPORT MEDICAID ENROLLEES TO A GENERAL HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT.

CONSEQUENTIALLY IN CASES WHERE AN EMS PROFESSIONAL DETERMINES A PATIENT WILL BE BETTER SERVED TO TREAT THEM AT THE SCENE, THEY FACE NOT BEING REIMBURSED FOR THAT TREATMENT CARE.

SOME PATIENTS NEED MORE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND CAN'T WAIT TO BE TRANSPORTED.

AS A RESULT, EMS PROVIDERS OFTEN TREAT PATIENTS ON SCENE.

TEAM EGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROCKLAND PARAMEDIC SERVICES, SAYS ABOUT 30% OF CASES ARE TREATED ON SCENE, LEAVING AMBULANCE SERVICES OFTEN UNPAID.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEX CASES THAT GET LEFT ON SCENE, DIABETICS THAT ARE GIVEN AN I.V.

IN DEXTROSE, CARDIAC ARRESTS THAT ARE PRONOUNCED ON SCENE, AND IN THOSE CASES, THE COST OF PREPAREDNESS ISN'T ACCOUNTED FOR.

THE COST OF THE CREW, THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANNA KELLES, A LEAD SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION, STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF EMS SERVICES AND ON-SITE TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR RURAL AREAS WHERE HOSPITALS ARE SOMETIMES HOURS AWAY.

THE SERVICE AREAS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN THE MOST RURAL AREAS ARE HUGE SO PERFECT EXAMPLE, TRUMANSBURG, NEW YORK, A VILLAGE IN MY DISTRICT.

IT'S A TWO-MILE DISTRICT, BUT IT HAS A 250-SQUARE-MILE SERVICE AREA FROM ONE AMBULANCE.

KELLES ADDED IN CASES WHERE AN EMERGENCY ROOM IS FULL, THE AMBULANCE HAS TO WAIT UNTIL A BED IS READY, WHICH MEANS A LONGER WAIT FOR OTHER POTENTIAL EMERGENCIES WITHIN THE EMS SERVICE AREA.

STEVEN KROLL, CHIEF OF BETHLEHEM EMS, SAYS EMS TECHNICIANS HAVE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING AND PARAMEDICS HAVE THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING TO TREAT PEOPLE NO MATTER THE SETTING.

KROLL STRESSES THAT TRAINING, STAFFING AND THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES COSTS MONEY.

MOST OF US, OUR BUDGETS ARE BUILT ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE SERVE PATIENTS.

IF WE SERVE PATIENTS THAT WE SHOULD GET PAID FOR BUT THEN WE DON'T GET PAID, IT UNDERMINES OUR ABILITY TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ESSENTIALLY NOBODY PAYS US FOR THE COST OF RIDING US.

KROLL ALSO SAYS NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE SAID ONE EXAMPLE IS WHEN EMS TECHNICIANS CAN TREAT A DIABETIC WITH DANGEROUSLY LOW BLOOD SUGAR WITH INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE AND A SNACK.

THE SHORT-ACTING SUGAR WE GIVE THEM AND A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH, ONCE WE DO THAT, THEY DON'T NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEY MAY NEED TO SEE THEIR ENDOCRINOLOGIST THE NEXT DAY OR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR DOCTOR TO FIND OUT WHY THEIR SUGAR WENT LOW, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT OCCUR ON A NOT TOO INFREQUENT BASIS.

WE CAN CARE FOR IN THE HOME.

THE NEW LAW COULD HELP REDUCE STRESS ON THE VOLUME OF PATIENTS IN EMERGENCY ROOMS.

TODAY, EMERGENCY ROOMS ARE VERY BUSY AND VERY OVERCROWDED.

THEY DON'T NEED PATIENTS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE THERE.

THE NEW LAW WILL ALLOW FOR MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR TREATMENT IN PLACE.

IT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR EMS SERVICES TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS TO NECESSARY LOCATIONS OTHER THAN A HOSPITAL.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS SUTURES TO A CLINIC OR SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS ORTHOPEDIC CARE TO AN ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW IN LATE SEPTEMBER RIGHT BEFORE A TIME WHEN ADVOCATES SAID IT NEEDED TO BE SIGNED TO GO INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR.

THE CHANGE THROUGH THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS REQUIRES A STATE PLAN AMENDMENT WHICH HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE MEDICAID OFFICE.

IT THEN HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS NEW YORK IS FUNDED BY 50% OF FEDERAL MEDICAID DOLLARS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STATE PLAN AMENDMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THEY'LL REVIEW IT.

THEY'LL PICK TAKE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REVIEW IT.

WE EXPECT TO SEE FULL IMPLEMENTATION PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER NEXT YEAR.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING THE STATE PLAN AMENDMENT TO THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.

EMS PROFESSIONALS STRESSED THE NEW LAW WILL OVERALL IMPROVE PATIENT CARE.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE READY FOR THE NEXT MAJOR EMERGENCY.

SOMEONE'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

SOMEONE'S HAVING A STROKE.

IF WE'RE TIED UP FOR TWO HOURS TAKING SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL AND THEN RETURNING FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN AN HOUR IN THEIR HOME, THAT'S AN HOUR THAT AMBULANCE IS NOT IN SERVICE READY FOR THE NEXT EMERGENCY.

HOWEVER, THE NEW REIMBURSEMENT LAW IS ONE PART OF THE LARGER ISSUE FACING EMS SERVICES.

RYAN GREGOIRE, THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, SAYS STATEWIDE, EMS SERVICES ARE SADDLED WITH PRESSURE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICE AT A TIME WHEN THEY DEAL WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL STRESS.

I HAVE HEARD FROM COUNTY LEADERS FROM LONG ISLAND TO ERIE COUNTY TO THE NORTH COUNTRY, EVERYONE IS WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE HEARING FROM THEIR PROVIDERS.

THEY'RE HEARING FROM THEIR COMMUNITY THAT EMS AGENCIES ARE BEING CLOSED ACROSS THE STATE.

GREGOIRE SAYS THE LAW WILL PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE EMS COMMUNITY, BUT THERE IS MORE THE STATE COULD DO TO HELP.

HE HIGHLIGHTED A CAMPAIGN CREATED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CALLED RESCUE EMS THAT OUTLINES SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION THEY BELIEVE WILL HELP BOLSTER EMS PROVIDERS.

ONE OF THOSE BILLS WOULD DECLARE EMS AS AN EMERGENCY SERVICE AND STATE LAW WHICH COULD OPEN UP MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES RECEIVE.

GREGOIRE PROVIDED THAT EMS AND POLICE ARE PROVIDED BY STATE, CITIES OR VILLAGES OR TOWNS IN SOME MECHANISM THROUGH TAX REVENUE.

IT SAYS IT IS SIMILAR FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

WITH EMS, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOME MECHANISM IN PLACE SO WHEN YOU DO CALL 911 AND YOU TALK TO A COUNTY DISPATCHER, THEY'RE ABLE TO SEND AN AMBULANCE TO YOU IF THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED.

THE LEGISLATION PASSED THE SENATE LAST SESSION BUT FAILED TO MAKE IT OUT OF ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.

HOWEVER, THE LEGISLATION DOES SEEM TO HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AMONG LAWMAKERS.

I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING THIS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT UNTIL WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE THE TRUE COST OF PROVIDING EMS SERVICES IN THE STATE ARE FULLY COVERED.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE WORKING AT A DEFICIT WITH THE INCREDIBLE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE THE COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE LITERALLY THE FIRST STEP OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THEY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ACROSS THE AISLE STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EMS PROVIDERS TO NEW YORK COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY VOLUNTEERS WHO SAVE THE STATE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO WE CAN AFFORD TO DEDICATE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A CONSISTENT STREAM OF FUNDING THAT MAKES SURE THAT THESE VITAL LIFE-SAVING SERVICES CAN BE DELIVERED ASSEMBLY MEMBER STEVE OTIS, THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAID THE BILL FAILED TO MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR LAST SESSION DUE TO NUMEROUS DRAFTING AND BILL LANGUAGE ISSUES, SUCH AS A LACK OF SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION IN COUNTY AND GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW FOR EMS FUNDING DECISIONS.

B ORRELLO SPECULATES THAT THE BILL ALSO COULD HAVE FAILED IN THE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND SOME LAWMAKERS MAY HAVE BEEN APPREHENSIVE TO MAKE ANY POTENTIAL TAX CHANGES FOR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHENEVER YOU SAY THE WORD TAX IN ELECTION YEAR, THERE'S PUSHBACKS.

BUT OTIS ARGUED THERE IS NO ACCURACY STATING THE ISSUES WERE LARGELY TECHNICAL ON THE BILL LANGUAGE.

SENATOR SHELLEY MAYER, THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BILL IN THE SENATE, ECHOS THE CONCERNS RELATED TO COUNTY LAW PROVISIONS IN ENSURING LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES HAVE OPTIONS TO FUND EMS PROVIDERS.

I THINK THEY WANT SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN THERE TO CLARIFY THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNTIES.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SENSITIVITY ABOUT WHETHER THERE WILL BE COSTS ANTICIPATED AT A MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

WE TRIED TO REALLY LEAVE A VERY WIDE PERSPECTIVE SO WE DON'T PROPOSE A SINGLE WAY OF FUNDING EMS.

THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS.

THE BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE SURE EMS IS PROVIDED THROUGH THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH FUNDING METHODS, SUCH AS PRIVATE AMBULANCE OR E MT SERVICES OR SPECIAL DISTRICT FINANCING.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO GIVE SOME OF THOSE CHOICES TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THERE'S ALSO A NEW PLANNING PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR STATEWIDE TO FURTHER RATIONALIZE THE SYSTEM AND ASSIST THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE TOOLS THAT THEY HAVE.

HE ALSO SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS DURING OFF-SESSION TIME TO RESOLVE THE BILL DRAFTING DETAILS.

IT'S A COMPLEX BILL.

IT DEALS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, WITH SOME EDUCATION LAW ISSUES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, AND SO I-- I EXPECT THAT WE'RE QUESTIONING TO HAVE TWEAKS IN THE BILL IN BOTH HOUSES.

MAYER SAYS EVEN THOUGH THE SENATE SUPPORTED THE BILL AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, SHE WILL ALSO SUPPORT AN AMENDED VERSION TO GET IT TO PASS THE ASSEMBLY.

SO IF THERE ARE TECHNICAL CHANGES IN SECTIONS OF THE LAW OR IN CLARIFYING THAT THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING EMS CAN BE MAINTAINED IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS AS OPPOSED TO ONE PATH, WE'RE OPEN IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THAT.

OTIS SAYS THE ISSUE IS A PRIORITY FOR LAWMAKERS AND HE IS CONFIDENT IT WILL HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS WELL.

I THINK THE AGENDA IS SOMETHING WE ALL AGREE ON, AND SO THE DETAILS ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO DISCUSSION.

BUT I THINK WE'LL GET THERE.

I THINK THAT THEY'VE-- THE EXECUTIVE HAS HAD HER OWN PROPOSALS WITHIN THE BUDGET AND THEY'RE ALL WITHIN THE SAME VOCABULARY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO I'M OPTIMISTIC.

THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET IN THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS INCLUDED PROPOSALS SUCH AS CREATING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ZONES, ESTABLISHING A PARAMEDIC TELEMEDICINE URGENT CARE PROGRAM AND ALLOWING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS TO PROVIDE NON-EMERGENT CARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF EMS AND THEIR FUNDING COINCIDES WITH THE NEEDS OF NEW YORKERS' PUBLIC HEALTH.

EMS WORKERS SAY 911 CALLS ARE INCREASING STATEWIDE.

DELMAR BETHLEHEM EMS ALONE HAS INCREASED THEIR RESPONSE BY 32% SINCE 2020.

NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES SAY THEY INTEND TO PUSH FOR SEVERAL OTHER BILLS THAT INTEND TO HELP IMPROVE EMS FUNDING AND ULTIMATELY HELP IMPROVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

ELISE KLINE, NEW YORK NOW.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BILLS LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO PASS NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR EMS WORKERS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT BY GOING TO NEWSLETTER.NYNOW.ORG, OR BY SCANNING THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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