What's happening
This bill defines and authorizes "fire patrols" in Richmond County, granting them specific emergency response powers and vehicle status for five years.
Why it matters
Expands emergency response capabilities in Richmond County. by legally defining "fire patrols" and granting them powers to assist fire departments and protect property during fires, including entering buildings with permission during emergencies.
Clarifies the scope and control of fire patrols. , ensuring they operate only within Richmond County (except for educational/non-response activities elsewhere) and remain subordinate to official fire departments or public agencies during emergencies.
Designates fire patrol vehicles as "authorized emergency vehicles". , which allows them to use lights, sirens, and potentially other traffic law exemptions, enhancing their ability to respond quickly and safely.
Imposes a five-year trial period. , meaning the authorization for these fire patrols and their powers will automatically expire unless renewed, providing a built-in evaluation period to assess their effectiveness and impact.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Fire Patrols in NYC
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.381
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1287
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Allow Nonprofits as Fire Patrols
In Assembly Committee · Rules · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2604
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LANZA, ADDABBO, SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the not-for-profit corporation law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the operation of fire patrols; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The not-for-profit corporation law is amended by adding a new section 1413 to read as follows: § 1413. Fire patrols.
(a) "Fire patrol" means any entity whose services include protecting life and property through the safe and efficient means of modern salvage and property damage mitigation techniques, of saving or reducing the loss of property exposed to water, smoke or gasses, and thereby reducing losses to property owners, and of other public benefits, including but not limited to assisting fire departments or other public agencies in the course of their respective duties when duly authorized thereby, shall be governed by this chapter and shall be known as and may use the term "fire patrol" or "fire patrols" to describe such entity. No other entity shall use such terms. Any fire patrol incorporated on or after April first, two thousand ten shall only operate within the boundaries of Richmond county.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall permit any fire patrol to operate and provide emergency response services except in response to properties located completely within the boundaries of Richmond county nor to operate as a successor in interest to any fire patrol incorporated or which operated prior to April first, two thousand ten.
(c) Fire patrols, in the execution of their purposes, including but not limited to assisting fire departments or other public agencies in the course of their respective duties, shall have the power to enter any
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00253-01-7
S. 2604 2
building on fire or which may be exposed to or in danger of loss or damage by fire, smoke or water, or in which property may be in danger of loss or damage from fire, smoke or water, and to protect and endeavor to save the property therein and, when necessary, to remove such property or any part thereof; provided, however, that the officer of the fire department or agency in charge at the scene of any fire or emergency expressly permits the fire patrol to enter the property prior to such entry and such entry does not interfere with the actions of the members of the fire department or public agency to which the fire patrol is rendering assistance, and the fire patrol shall in all respects and at all times when rendering assistance to a fire department or public agency shall be subordinate to and under the control of the fire department or public agency to which assistance is rendered. Nothing herein shall limit or prohibit the fire patrol so operating to conduct educational programs or other non-response activities consistent with its mission and standing as a duly organized and recognized not-for-profit corporation in any other part of the state in addition to Richmond county.
§ 2. Section 101 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 446 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
§ 101. Authorized emergency vehicle. Every ambulance, police vehicle or bicycle, correction vehicle, fire vehicle, fire patrol vehicle, civil defense emergency vehicle, emergency ambulance service vehicle, blood delivery vehicle, county emergency medical services vehicle, environmental emergency response vehicle, sanitation patrol vehicle, hazardous materials emergency vehicle and ordnance disposal vehicle of the armed forces of the United States.
§ 3. The opening paragraph of section 115-a of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 176 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read as follows:
Every vehicle operated for fire service purposes owned and identified as being owned by the state, a public authority, a county, town, city, village or fire district, or a fire corporation subject to the provisions of [subdivision] paragraph (e) of section fourteen hundred two of the not-for-profit corporation law [or], a fire company as defined in section one hundred of the general municipal law or a fire patrol as defined in paragraph (a) of section fourteen hundred thirteen of the not-for-profit corporation law. Any of the following vehicles shall be fire vehicles only for the purpose of section one hundred one of this [chapter] article:
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed 5 years after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the not-for-profit corporation law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the operation of fire patrols; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
Authorizes certain organizations to be known law operating in the as "fire patrols" under the not-for-profit corporation county of Richmond.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. A new section,§ 1413 is added to the not-for-profit corpo- ration law.
Section 2. § 101 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended.
Section 3. § 115-a of the vehicle and traffic law is amended.
Section 4. Effective date.
Justification
Fire patrols operated throughout New York and the nation as parts of boards of fire underwriters. With the dissolution of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters in 2010, the New York Fire Patrol, which suspended operations in 2006, ceased to exist. However, a private, non-profit fire patrol still operates in the county of Richmond, Staten Island. This Fire Patrol assists fire departments, other public safety agencies and property owners with property protection against impacts from fire, smoke and water damage. While executing these duties, Fire Patrol responders do not travel in personal vehicles while assisting in such emergencies. Furthermore, all who belong to this private, non-profit fire patrol must take a mandatory emergency driving course as set forth in the bill. This bill also provides that a fire patrol operating in Richmond County may offer educational programs or other non-response activities. Thus, the bill restores several of the powers once enjoyed by the former fire patrols.
Prior legislative history
2017: A.1376 - Referred to Corporations /S.2604 - Passed Senate 2016: A.503 Reported to Rules / S.2544 - Passed Senate 2015: A.503 - Reported to Rules / S.2544 - Passed Senate 2014: A.5253 - Reported to Rules / S.3981 - Passed Senate 2013: A.5253 - Reported to Rules / S.3981 - Passed Senate 2012: A.8117-D - Died in Rules / S.5573-D - Passed Senate 2011: A.8117 -- Referred to Corporations / S.5573 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed 5 years after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.