Grants additional credit to volunteer firefighters in competitive civil service examinations for appointment and promotion, also for retention

BILL NUMBER:S4525

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to granting additional credit to volunteer firefighters in competitive examinations and authorizing a preference in retention upon the abolition of certain positions

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would grant volunteer firefighters additional credits in the amount of two to five additional points for eligibility lists, and one to two and one-half additional points for promotional examinations.

Summary of specific provisions

Additional points shall be added to final earned ratings of volunteer firefighters in the amounts as follows:

For original appointments: Two points for ten years of service, four points for twenty years of service, five points for twenty-five years or more of service as a volunteer firefighter.

For promotional examinations: One point for ten years of service, two points for twenty years of service, two and one-half points for twenty-five years or more of service as a volunteer firefighter.

This credit is to be added after the candidate has qualified in the competitive examination and shall be granted only at the time of establishment of the resulting eligibility list. Volunteer firefighters are also given an additional sixty months credit with regard to lists of seniority for layoffs and terminations.

Justification

It is estimated that volunteer firefighters save the taxpayers of New York State approximately $750 million annually by providing a service, which in their absence, would require a paid staff.

This bill will provide further incentive for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

Prior legislative history

A.5204 (1997-98) A.2782 (1999-2000) A.193 (2001-2004) A.940 (2005-2006) A.9101(2007-2008) A.4037 (2009-2010) A.3999 (2011-2012)

Fiscal implication

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.