Establishes a corporate sponsorship board for the fire department of the city of New York

BILL NUMBER:S2231

Title of bill

An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing a corporate sponsorship board for the fire department of the city of New York

Purpose

This bill establishes a corporate sponsorship board for the fire department of the city of New York.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 adds a new section 15-129 to the administrative code of the city of New York. A Corporate sponsorship board is established to evaluate sponsorships and to determine if they are in the beneficial interest of the fire department. The board will be made up of seven members. Members will be appointed by each of the following: one by each of the five borough presidents, one by the mayor, and one by the fire commissioner.

These board members will not hold the powers of public office. Terms will be for a period of three years and members will serve without pay. Members of the board will be prohibited from holding interest in corporations that would be deemed a conflict of interest by the general municipal law.

Their main duties will include: developing and implementing a comprehensive corporate sponsorship program for the support of the fire department, utilizing resources of existing city agencies, contracting for professional assistance, preparing annual statements, and holding public hearings.

Section 2 implements this act on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become law.

Justification

In the spring of 2003, city and state budget constraints threatened to close eight firehouses in New York City _ five in Brooklyn, two in Queens, and one in Manhattan. If these closures were put into effect, neighborhood safety would have been threatened and an additional strain would be put on remaining emergency services.

This bill creates a corporate sponsorship board to review and approve corporate sponsors for the benefit of the FDNY. Fire houses must remain open to ensure public safety of the residents of the city of New York. With the city and state budgets in such disarray, it is necessary to think outside the box and to utilize creative solutions. Corporate

sponsors would save millions of dollars from the city budget and assuage neighbors fears of extended response times.

Legislative history

New bill.

Effective date

This act shall take effect one hundred twenty days after it shall become law.