Permits volunteer firefighter to be eligible for membership in more than one fire company at a time

15 Co-sponsors

• RoAnn Destito
• Marc Alessi
• David Koon
• Michelle Schimel
• Brian Kolb
• Clifford Crouch
• Matthew Titone
• Dennis H. Gabryszak
• Francine DelMonte
• Robin Schimminger
• Kenneth Zebrowski
• Nelson Castro
• Carmen E. Arroyo
• Adriano Espaillat
• Timothy P. Gordon

25 Multi-sponsors

• James Bacalles
• William Boyland
• Daniel Burling
• Nancy Calhoun
• Jane Corwin
• Joseph Errigo
• Gary Finch
• Vanessa Gibson
• Joseph Giglio
• Stephen Hawley
• Earlene Hooper
• Peter Lopez
• David McDonough
• Thomas McKevitt
• Michael G. Miller
• Marcus Molinaro
• Dean Murray
• Audrey Pheffer
• Andrew Raia
• Robert Reilly
• Joseph Saladino
• Frank Skartados
• Fred Thiele
• David Townsend
• Harvey Weisenberg

BILL NUMBER:A9216

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, the town law, the village law, the general city law, the not-for-profit corporation law and the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, in relation to permit- ting volunteer firefighters to be eligible to serve in more than one volunteer fire department at one time

Purpose

This legislation would permit volunteer firefighters to be eligible for membership in more than one fire department at a time.

Summary of provisions

A new §209-K is added to the General Municipal Law, subdivision 10 of

§176-b of the Town Law is amended, and subdivision 10 of § 10-006 of the Village Law is amended, subdivision 10 of section 16a of the general city law is amended, Subparagraph 3 of paragraph c of section 1402 of the not for profit corporation law is amended, section 30 of the volun- teer firefighters benefit law is amended to make volunteer firefighters eligible to become members of more than one fire company at one time.

Justification

Under current law, volunteer firefighters can only be a member of one volunteer fire company or department. While they are able to assist other volunteer fire companies on an as-needed basis in emer- gency situations, they cannot become permanent members. This legislation would allow a volunteer firefighter to become a member of more than one fire company at a time. This measure would benefit smaller and seasonal communities throughout the State by allowing fire companies in these areas to train and retain volunteer firefighters who wish to serve in their home town and also in their seasonal community. Volunteer fire- fighters who have attained life member status in a fire department by virtue of their service who move to a new community within New York State cannot become members of the Fire department in their new communi- ty without renouncing their status in their previous fire department in order to comply with the law. New York is currently the only state in the nation that prohibits volunteer firefighters from serving in more than one fire department. This measure would provide equality with volunteer EMS personnel who are permitted to have membership in as many volunteer EMS agencies as they would like. This legislation will put the decision making authority in the hands of Fire Chiefs and Fire Commis- sioners who are better equipped to decide their personnel needs by removing the state prohibition on membership in more than one fire dept. and making it a matter of local policy. This legislation accomplishes this and makes more firefighters available at a cost savings to the taxpayers of New York State.

Legislative history

Previously Introduced as A9542 of 2008

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.