BILL NUMBER: S8607

SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to the designation of Southampton Village Ocean
Rescue as an emergency rescue and first aid squad pursuant to the gener-
al municipal law and permitting members to display green lights on motor
vehicles when engaged in emergency operation pursuant to the vehicle and
traffic law

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to the designation of Southampton Village Ocean Rescue (SVOR) as
an emergency rescue and first aid squad under section 209-b of the
general municipal law.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Authorizes the village of Southampton to designate Southamp-
ton Village Ocean Rescue as an emergency rescue and first aid squad, by
resolution of the village board under section 209-b of the general
              

municipal law.

Section 2. Once officially designated an emergency rescue and first aid
squad under section 209-b of the general municipal law by the Southamp-
ton village board, members of SVOR may display a green light on motor
vehicles pursuant to paragraph 5 of subdivision 41 of section 375 of the
vehicle and traffic law.

Section 3. Sets forth an immediate effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Founded in 2018, the Southampton Village Ocean Rescue (SVOR) responds to
emergencies in the ocean and bay, throughout the village of Southampton.
They are dedicated to making expeditious and safe water rescues year
round at all unprotected beaches in Southampton village.

Each month SVOR trains in different locations coordinating with numerous
emergency agencies to be prepared for a multitude of aquatic emergen-
cies. They work with the town and village lifeguard agencies as well as
the police and fire departments and consistently adapt to new protocols
to ensure property rescue techniques that best protect the victims and
rescuers. SVOR rescuers are ocean lifeguard and CPR certified. They
promote water safety and educate the public the dangers of rip currents.

This legislation is a special act for the state of New York to recognize
the critical life saving functions and services carried out by SVOR by
authorizing the village of Southampton to designate SVOR by the adoption
of a resolution by the village board as an emergency rescue and first
aid squad under section 209-b of the general municipal law. Once desig-
nated, one green light may be affixed to any motor vehicle owned by a
SVOR member, a family member or a business enterprise in which such
member has a proprietary interest or by which is employed, provided such
member has been authorized in writing to affix a green light by the
chief officer. Such green light may only be displayed hen the member
is engaged in an emergency operation.

It should be noted that SVOR is modeled after the successes of the East
Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue (EHVOR). In 2020, similar legislation was
enacted on behalf of EHVOR and they have since been designated by the
town of East Hampton as an emergency rescue and first aid squad. This
legislation would provide SVOR designation parity with EHVOR.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.