This bill amends an existing 2011 law that temporarily allows certain out-of-state health care professionals to practice in New York in connection with New York Road Runners-sanctioned events. The amendment updates the list of covered professionals to expressly include paramedics within the emergency medical technician category. It also updates the event dates for the 2026 race calendar, including the New York City Marathon, Brooklyn Half Marathon, Bronx 10 Mile, New York City Half Marathon, Staten Island Half Marathon, and Queens 10K.
Under the bill, licensed or certified physicians, physician assistants, massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, nurses, nurse practitioners, EMTs, paramedics, athletic trainers, and podiatrists from other states or territories may provide services without first obtaining New York licensure or certification, so long as they are in good standing and are appointed by New York Road Runners. The authorization is limited to a short window around each listed event, from four days before through one day after the event, and applies only to athletes and team personnel registered for training or competition at sanctioned events in New York City.
The bill narrows and clarifies a limited statutory exemption from New York licensure and certification requirements in the Education Law and Public Health Law for out-of-state medical professionals working at specified New York Road Runners events. Its practical effect is to facilitate medical coverage for large endurance races by allowing temporary practice by non-New York professionals, while leaving the underlying professional licensing framework intact. The amendment is temporary and tied to the listed 2026 events, and it is set to take effect immediately while remaining subject to the existing repeal structure of the 2011 law.
The available legislative history suggests the bill was treated as a routine, noncontroversial update to an existing event-specific authorization. There are no recorded committee transcripts or vote details indicating opposition, and the bill advanced to the Assembly Floor Calendar after amendment and reprinting. The overall sentiment appears supportive, likely reflecting the practical need to ensure adequate medical staffing for major road races.
No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. The only substantive policy choice evident in the text is the expansion of the covered emergency medical category to include paramedics and the updating of event dates for 2026. Any concern would likely center on the temporary waiver of New York licensure requirements for out-of-state practitioners, but the bill’s narrow scope, event-specific limits, and short authorization window suggest limited controversy.