New York Health Policy Monitor (July 29, 2026)
This brief details executive approval of legislation granting peace officer status to hospital security staff and new community paramedicine regulations.
Prepared by Isaac Michaels, DrPH · July 28, 2026
On July 24, 2026, the executive signed a package of legislation granting peace officer status to security personnel at several hospitals across New York State. The measures encompass facilities such as Highland Hospital, Albany Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Hospital, Saint Peter’s Hospital, Saint Joseph’s Health Hospital, North Medical Center, and Northeast Medical Center. The enactments authorize security officers to exercise specific law enforcement powers on hospital grounds, including the authority to detain individuals suspected of committing offenses and to transport arrested individuals when local law enforcement is unavailable. These personnel remain strictly prohibited from carrying firearms without a separate civilian license.
Within the regulatory sphere, executive agencies formalized several operational standards. The Department of Health adopted updated compatibility requirements for ionizing radiation to align state protocols with federal guidelines and modern technology. Simultaneously, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities issued an emergency rule allowing specialty hospitals to be certified as intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing immediate structural changes for specialized facility designations. Additionally, the Office of Cannabis Management finalized rules conforming medical cannabis regulations to recent statutory amendments.
Furthermore, the Department of Health initiated a rulemaking process to establish a formalized framework for community paramedicine programs across the state. This proposed regulation aims to codify the operational scope, oversight, and practice parameters for emergency medical personnel delivering care outside traditional emergency response models. Facilities and service providers must evaluate these proposed requirements to determine the operational and compliance mandates for deploying community-based paramedic services.
Past Week at a Glance
- 3 Health Bills Signed by Governor
- 1 Health Rule Emergency Issued
- 2 Health Rules Adopted
- 1 Health Rule Proposed
Priority Items
Affected Entities and Corresponding Policies
- Community Paramedicine Programs: HLT-29-26-00012-P
- Diagnostic Facilities: HLT-40-25-00001-A
- Emergency Medical Services: HLT-29-26-00012-P
- Hospitals: A10328, A10518, A7345, HLT-40-25-00001-A
- Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: PDD-50-25-00004-E
- Intermediate Care Facilities: PDD-50-25-00004-E
- Law Enforcement Agencies: A10328, A10518, A7345
- Local Health Departments: HLT-29-26-00012-P
- Medical Cannabis Dispensaries: OCM-12-26-00002-A
- Patients: OCM-12-26-00002-A
- Radiology Centers: HLT-40-25-00001-A
- Registered Practitioners: OCM-12-26-00002-A
- Security Personnel: A10328, A10518, A7345
- Specialty Hospitals: PDD-50-25-00004-E