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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1234
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 4931b
- Amend (t) and recommit to finance
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to codes
- Print number 4931a
- Amend (t) and recommit to codes
- Committee discharged and committed to codes
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Prohibits people registered under the sex offender registration act from being a volunteer firefighter
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Robert Reilly
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4931B
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, the village law and the not-for-profit corporation law, in relation to qualifications to serve as a volunteer firefighter
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow volunteer fire companies and not-for-profit fire corporations to provide greater protections for the general public by providing for additional convictions which would disqualify an individual from being a member of a volunteer fire company or fire corporation.
Read the full memo (649 words)
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends subdivision 16 of section 176-b of the town law to provide that a person who has been convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act shall not be eligible to be a member of an volunteer fire company, additionally any current member convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act shall be immediately terminated.
Section 2: Amends subdivision 17 of section 176-b of the town law to require that a fire chief search the internet subdirectory of individuals who have been convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act upon the application of an individual for membership in a volunteer fire company.
Section 3: Amends subdivision 18 of section 10-1006 of the village law to provide that a person who has been convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act shall not be eligible to be a member of an volunteer fire company, additionally any current member convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act shall be immediately terminated.
Section 4: Amends subdivision 19 of section 10-1006 of the village law to require that a fire chief search the internet subdirectory of individuals who have been convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act upon the application of an individual for membership in a volunteer fire company.
Section 5: Amends subparagraph 4 of paragraph (c) of section 1402 of the not-for-profit corporation law to provide that a person who has been convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act shall not be eligible to be a member of a fire corporation, additionally any current member convicted of a
violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act shall be immediately terminated.
Section 6: Amends subparagraph 5 of paragraph (c) of section 1402 of the not-for-profit corporation law to require that a fire chief search the internet subdirectory of individuals who have been convicted of a violation that requires registration under the sex offender registration act upon the application of an individual for membership in a fire corporation.
Section 7: Effective Date
Justification
Volunteer fire departments should have the ability to keep convicted sex offenders from becoming volunteers. Because of the nature of the job of volunteer firefighters are often in situations where children and families are present and most vulnerable due to a fire or medical emergency. Volunteer fire fighters frequently participate in community and school activities in which children are present that would give sex offenders unique access to children. In addition, municipalities with volunteer fire departments should not be exposed to potential lawsuits that could come about because of an incident involving a volunteer with a past sexual offender conviction. This bill would allow departments to screen current volunteers for sexual offense convictions and authorizes the termination of any current volunteer with a conviction for sexual offenses.
This legislation has been introduced at the request of, and is supported by, the Fireman's Association of New York, Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York and the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs.
Prior legislative history
A.1277 of 2009-2010 A.5721 of 2008
Fiscal implications
None, the background checks already occur for arson convictions, this bill expands the checks to include convictions for other offenses.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.