§ 3011. Powers and duties of the department and the commissioner. 1. The department may inquire into the operation of ambulance services and advanced life support first response services and conduct periodic inspections of facilities, communication services, vehicles, methods, procedures, materials, staff and equipment. It may also evaluate data received from ambulance services and advanced life support first response services.

2. The department may require ambulance services and advanced life support first response services to submit periodic reports of calls received, services performed and such other information as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.

3. The commissioner, with the advice and consent of the state council, shall designate not more than eighteen geographic areas within the state wherein a regional emergency medical services council shall be established. In making the determination of a geographic area, the commissioner shall take into consideration the presence of ambulance services, hospital facilities, existing emergency medical services committees, trained health personnel, health planning agencies and communication and transportation facilities; and shall establish separate regional emergency medical services councils for the counties of Nassau and Westchester. The commissioner shall promote and encourage the establishment of a regional emergency medical services council in each of said designated areas.

3-a. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article:

a. The creation of any regional council or emergency medical services program agency on or after January first, two thousand shall not diminish any then existing funding appropriated after the effective date of this subdivision to regional councils or emergency medical services program agencies;

b. Subject to the provisions of paragraph c of this subdivision, funding for regional councils and emergency medical services program agencies existing on or after January first, two thousand shall be increased in proportion to any funding appropriated therefor by the department and in such proportion as determined by the department;

c. Funding for any regional council or emergency medical services program agency created on or after January first, two thousand shall be in addition to any funds appropriated on the effective date of this subdivision for regional councils or emergency medical services program agencies existing on January first, two thousand. Funding for any regional council or emergency medical services program agency created after January first, two thousand shall be in an amount at least equal to the minimum funding level appropriated to regional councils or emergency medical services program agencies existing on such date, or in an amount equal to the proportion that such new regional council or emergency medical services program agency represented on the basis of population in its former regional council or emergency medical services program agency, whichever is larger.

4. The commissioner may propose rules and regulations and amendments thereto for consideration by the state council. The commissioner shall establish a schedule of certification fees for ambulance services and advanced life support first response services other than voluntary ambulance services and voluntary advanced life support first response services.

5. For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety and welfare the commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to contract with voluntary ambulance services and municipal ambulance services, or with the fire commissioners of fire districts operating voluntary ambulance services, upon such terms and conditions as he shall deem appropriate and within amounts made available therefor, for reimbursement of the necessary and incidental costs incurred by such ambulance services in order to effectuate the provisions of this article.

6. The commissioner is hereby authorized, for the purposes of effectuating the provisions of this article in the development of a statewide emergency medical service system, to contract with any ambulance service or with the fire commissioners of fire districts operating certified voluntary ambulance services for the use of necessary equipment upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner shall deem appropriate.

7. The commissioner may recommend to the state council minimum qualifications for certified first responders (which shall not exceed fifty-one hours), emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians in all phases of emergency medical technology including but not limited to, communications, first aid, equipment, maintenance, emergency techniques and procedures, patient management and knowledge of procedures and equipment for emergency medical care.

8. The commissioner shall provide every certified ambulance service and advanced life support first response service with an official insignia which may be attached to every vehicle owned or operated by a certified ambulance service or advanced life support first response service.

9. The department shall provide the state council with such assistance as the council may request in order to carry out its responsibilities as set forth in subdivision two-a of section three thousand two of this article.

10. The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to extend the certification for emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians or certified first responders who have been ordered to active military duty, other than for training, on or after the eleventh day of September, two thousand one and whose certification will expire during their military duty or within the six months immediately following separation from military service. The extended certification shall be for the period of military duty and for twelve months after they have been released from active military duty.

11. The commissioner, with the advice and consent of the state council, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of subdivision two of section sixty-seven hundred thirteen of the education law.