§ 3009. Continuation of existing services. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections three thousand four and three thousand five of this article, if any ambulance service or a predecessor in interest was in bona fide operation as an ambulance service on April first, nineteen hundred seventy-five, within the territory for which application for an ambulance service certificate or voluntary ambulance service statement of registration is made pursuant to any provisions of this article, and has so operated since that time, the department shall issue such certificate or statement of registration without requiring proof that there is a public need for such ambulance service and without further proceedings, provided application for such certificate or statement of registration is submitted to the department in accordance with this article prior to September first, nineteen hundred seventy-five. Pending the determination of any such application the continuance of such operation shall be lawful. In all other cases the application shall be decided in accordance with the procedures provided for in section three thousand four or three thousand five of this article and such application shall be approved or denied accordingly. An application pursuant to this section shall be deemed filed with the department upon being mailed to the department by registered or certified mail.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision six of section three thousand five of this article, if any advanced life support first response service or a predecessor in interest was in bona fide operation as an advanced life support first response service at the intermediate, critical care, or paramedic level on January first, nineteen hundred ninety-three, within the territory for which application for a certificate is made pursuant to any provisions of this article, and has so operated since that time, the department shall issue such certificate without requiring that there is a public need for such service and without further proceedings, provided application for such certificate or statement of registration is submitted to the department in accordance with this article prior to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-eight. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision six of section three thousand five of this article, if any advanced life support first response service or a predecessor in interest was in bona fide operation as an advanced life support first response service at the emt-defibrillation level on July first, nineteen hundred ninety-three, within the territory for which application for a certificate is made pursuant to any provisions of this article, and has so operated since that time, the department shall issue such certificate without requiring that there is a public need for such service and without further proceedings, provided application for such certificate or statement of registration is submitted to the department in accordance with this article prior to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-four. Pending the determination of any such application, the continuance of such operation shall be lawful. In all other cases the application shall be decided in accordance with the procedures provided in section three thousand five of this article and such application shall be approved or denied accordingly. An application pursuant to this section shall be deemed filed with the department upon being mailed to the department by certified or registered mail.