"It also validates what they've been doing," he told the Press-Republican. The New York State 911 Coordinators Association, of which Donoghue is president, has been advocating to make the designation official for years.įor Donoghue, the bill recognizes the work dispatchers have been doing all along.
"Such individual is responsible for the administration or supervision of lifesaving communication services for emergency situations," the legislation reads.Ĭlinton County Office of Emergency Services Assistant Director Kelly Donoghue said the long-running assumption had been that dispatchers - whose responsibilities include taking 911 calls, summoning and sending necessary emergency personnel, and coordinating with responding agencies until an emergency is over - were already considered first responders. Kathy Hochul signed three bills into law, including one that defines a "first responder in communication" as an individual who is, among other positions, a public safety or emergency services dispatcher who meets the minimum requirements established by a local government, department or agency. Up until Friday, 911 dispatchers were not officially recognized as first responders in New York State.Īhead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Gov.
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