What's happening
This bill allows youth program participants in fire departments to respond to emergencies but with restrictions on hazardous activities and roles.
Why it matters
Expands hands-on experience for youth. The bill allows youth program participants in fire departments to respond to actual emergencies, offering more realistic training and exposure to emergency situations, which can be valuable for recruitment and skill-building.
Maintains safety boundaries. While participation increases, the bill sets clear limitations: youth must remain in a designated safe area during emergencies and are specifically prohibited from entering burning structures or riding in vehicles using lights and sirens, reducing their risk of harm.
Clarifies legal and benefit status. Youth participants are explicitly not considered “active volunteer firefighters” under New York law, meaning they are not eligible for the same benefits or subject to the same liabilities, which may affect both protections and insurance coverage.
Requires oversight. All youth activities must be pre-approved by the fire chief or a designee, ensuring that fire department leadership retains control over what roles youth can play, adding a layer of accountability and supervision.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Youth at Fire Scenes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in local governments
- Referred to local governments
- Referred to local governments
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 Youth at Fire Scenes
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Pamela Helming
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5558
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. MANKTELOW -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to participants in youth programs sponsored by fire departments
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 204-b of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 386 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
5. All activities of participants in such program shall be approved in advance by the chief, or his or her designee. [No activities may include emergency duties in connection with fire department or fire company operations or any other hazardous activity.] Participants may respond to an emergency or hazardous activity, but shall remain in a designated or marked off area that has been set up by the chief or officer in charge. Such participant cannot respond to an emergency on a vehicle using lights and/or sirens. Furthermore, such participants may not enter a burning structure nor shall participants in a youth program pursuant to this section fall under the definition of active volunteer firefighter as defined in section three of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04845-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.