§ 59-b. Promotions of supervisory personnel of the emergency medical
service. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the
continued, uninterrupted, adequate and efficient operation of emergency
medical services is necessary for the general welfare of the people;
that such adequate operation involves and requires personnel with highly
specialized ability, skill, training and knowledge, which necessitate
that vacancies in the emergency medical services in the positions of
Supervising Emergency Medical Service Specialist Level II (Captains),
Deputy Chief, Division Chief, and Division Commander, shall be filled as
far as practicable by promotion from among persons holding competitive
class positions in a lower grade in the department in which the vacancy
exists, provided that such lower grade positions are in direct line of
promotion, as determined by the department or municipal commission.

2. Promotion shall be based on merit and fitness as determined by
competitive examination, due weight being given to seniority. The
previous training and experience of the candidates, and performance
ratings where available, may be considered and given due weight as
factors in determining the relative merit and fitness of candidates for
promotion.

3. Any permanent competitive employee holding a provisional or
discretionary appointment in the affected supervisory titles of the
emergency medical service described in subdivision one of this section
shall be given the opportunity to participate in a competitive
promotional examination for the next higher level title.

4. Except as provided above, the provisions of this chapter shall
apply to employees covered by this section.