Fire District Organizational Meetings New law removes mortgage tax for fire departments and not for profit ambulance services New Law Threatens Loss of Tax Exempt Status Volunteer Ambulance Services Now Exempt From DMV Search Fees Questions about new laws for districts abound SAMPLE CODE OF ETHICS POLICY FOR ADOPTION BY FIRE DISTRICTS CODE OF ETHICS POLICY FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND COMPANIES EMT's statements at peer review process might admissible in court New Law Permits Comptroller to Audit Fire Companies Numerous New Laws Affect Fire Districts & Companies Are Texas Hold-Em Events Legal City That Does Not Have Written Contract With Fire Company May Still Be Liable For V.F.B.L. Benefits New procedure for fire district elections New law would require safety ropes for employed firefighters Court determines that fire chief has the ability to designate its power to regulate traffic in a village fire department. Resignations and the withdrawal of resignations Town loses lawsuit seeking accounting from ambulance corps Medical Care Providers Assume Duty when they Provide Care LENS Program tracks volunteer and employee's driving records New requirements for emergency ambulance service vehicles Fire District confirmations of chiefs is to be in January Medicare increases the Ambulance Inflation Factor by three (3%) percent. Distributions of cash are illegal forms of recruitment Fire District Election Procedure for 2004 election Fire Department Held Not Liable for Negligence of Chief OIG reviews waiver of co-payments by municipality for ambulance fees HIPAA violation leads to prison time Rescue Squads of fire departments may not be separately incorporated New York State likely to pass several new EMS & Fire related laws this year OIG issues opinion regarding waiver of Medicare Co-Payments How to protect the corporation after a motor vehicle accident Fire Departments May Not Bill for Rescue Services Are a patient's communications with an EMT admissable in court? Are Ambulance Subscription Programs Illegal in NY? Best Practices in Patient Refusals Billing Issues for Ambulance Services Can an emergency vehicle pass a stopped school bus? Disciplining Fire & EMS Members Do you bill? Implement a compliance plan. Do your bylaws comply with New York State's Not for Profit Corporation Law? EMTs as Mandated Reporters in New York Fail to provide proper notice of meetings, and you may end up paying the price out of your own pockets! Fire department liable for misinforming person that a fire was extinguished Fire Departments may not charge for ambulance services! Fire district commissioners can be removed for failing to take oath of office Fire District not liable for EMT's negligence Fire Districts May Now Provide Ambulance Service Firefighters can sue those who cause them injuries Good samaritans: When do you have a duty to act? Having a hard time finding a treasurer or secretary? How to limit a director's and officer's liability for mismanaging corporate funds. Is your ambulance corporation for profit or not for profit? Is your corporation completing the annual report required by law? Issues Regarding Junior Firefighters Minors may not refuse care Paid staff on your volunteer board? Policies more stringent than law can create liability Recruitment and Retention of Volunteers: How far can we go? Review your Ladies Auxiliary! The laws regarding displaying blue and green lights Training with Live Victims in Fire Becomes Illegal in New York State Who makes the decisions in your not for profit corporation? Your Corporation Must File Tax Returns © 2007 Scicchitano & Pinsky 5789 Widewaters Parkway, Suite 2 Syracuse, NY 13214-2807 315-428-8344