What's happening
This bill requires flags to be flown at half-staff statewide to honor first responders who die in the line of duty.
Why it matters
Mandates statewide recognition for all first responders. not just police and firefighters, but also EMTs, ambulance drivers, paramedics, physicians, and registered nurses—ensuring their sacrifices are publicly honored, regardless of whether they were paid or volunteers.
Establishes a uniform and automatic honor. for any first responder who dies in the line of duty, removing discretion from individual local agencies and requiring both the Governor and all local agencies to participate, thus eliminating inconsistencies in recognition across the state.
May increase public awareness and appreciation. for the broad spectrum of emergency response roles, highlighting the risks and contributions of all first responders, not just the most visible ones, and potentially strengthening community support for these professions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Honor Fallen First Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.781
- Referred to finance
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.611
- Referred to finance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2161
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sens. SERINO, AVELLA, LARKIN, RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to authorizing the flag to be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of certain first responders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 21 of section 403 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 666 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
21. The flag shall be flown at full staff at all times except it shall be flown at half-staff on the eleventh of September, known as September 11th Remembrance Day, the seventh day of December, known as Pearl Harbor Day, and to commemorate the death of a personage of national or state standing or of a local serviceman, official or public servant who, in the opinion of the local agency concerned, contributed to the community. It may also be flown at half-staff during special periods of mourning designated by the President of the United States or the Governor of this state. The Governor and all local agencies of this state shall order flags to be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of any police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, ambulance driver, paramedic, physician or registered nurse involved in a first response team, or any other individual who in the course of official duties, whether they were paid or volunteer, performed emergency response activities in this state who passed away in performance of these duties.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01530-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to authorizing the flag to be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of certain first responders
Purpose
To commemorate line of duty deaths for all of New York's first responders by flying the flag at half-staff.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends subdivision 21 of Section 403 of the Executive Law to require the governor and all local agencies to order flags to be flown at half-staff to commemorate all line of duty deaths of New York first responders, whether paid or volunteer.
Section 2: Sets an immediate effective date.
Justification
Although common practice for many local agencies is to honor line of duty deaths of first responders in the same county, some first responders have expressed a desire to honor all of their fallen brothers and sisters in duty, and this bill was created as a result of some of these first responders expressing their desire for such a policy. This bill would allow them to commemorate those who have fallen while in service of their duties; regardless of where they serve in the State.
Legislative history
2016: S.6804 Referred to Finance
Fiscal implications
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.