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History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
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Clarifies provisions of law permitting volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to purchase health insurance through a municipality
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law and the civil service law, in relation to providing health services and insurance for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation would clarify the provisions of law permitting volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to purchase health insurance through a municipality.
Summary of specific provisions
This legislation amends the general municipal law to permit a public corporation to provide coverage for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers. It further provides that coverage shall be provided by the municipality in which a volunteer resides should the district in which they serve cover two or more municipalities. In the instance that a municipality offers coverage under one or more plans, this legislation grants the supervisor or chief elected official of a municipality the authority to determine the plan or option to be made available to such volunteers.
Subdivision 2 of Section 163 of the Civil Service Law is also amended to insure that volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers are allowed to participate in the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) when offered by a municipality.
Justification
New York State and local governments have recognized the critical role emergency services volunteers have in our communities. Legislation was enacted into law which created the volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker health program to assist volunteer emergency service providers in their efforts to recruit and retain personnel (Chapter 331 of the Laws of 2008). However, there were a number of technical problems that could make its implementation difficult. This legislation is necessary to clarify and correct such deficiencies so that volunteer emergency service workers are not prevented from obtaining the full measure of benefits to which they should be entitled.
Prior legislative history
New Legislation, 2009
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.