What's happening
This bill increases weekly disability benefits to $650 for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers injured in the line of duty after July 1, 2019.
Why it matters
Addresses a gap in support for volunteers. By raising weekly disability benefits, the bill recognizes the growing demands and risks faced by volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, ensuring they are not left financially vulnerable if seriously injured.
May improve recruitment and retention. Higher benefits could make volunteer service more attractive and sustainable, helping communities maintain crucial emergency response teams amid nationwide recruitment challenges.
Aligns with cost of living and inflation. The increased compensation better reflects current economic realities, helping injured volunteers and their families manage living expenses during periods of temporary or permanent disability.
Signals increased respect for volunteer emergency workers. Updating these benefits demonstrates legislative acknowledgment of the essential, often dangerous work these volunteers perform, potentially boosting morale and public appreciation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Boost Benefits for Volunteer Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
14 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to local governments
- Referred to local governments
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5895
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI, BUCHWALD, GUNTHER, WOERNER, WALLACE, GALEF, BRONSON, D'URSO, STECK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLE- BRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to updating benefits and modernizing coverage for services provided in the line of duty
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The volunteer firefighters' benefit law is amended by adding a new section 9-a to read as follows:
§ 9-a. Total disability benefits for injuries on or after July first, two thousand nineteen. Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight or nine of this article, in the case of temporary total disability and permanent total disability when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, two thousand nineteen, said firefighter shall receive six hundred fifty dollars per week during the continuance thereof.
§ 2. The volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law is amended by adding a new section 9-a to read as follows:
§ 9-a. Total disability benefits for injuries on or after July first, two thousand nineteen. Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight or nine of this article, in the case of temporary total disability and permanent total disability when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, two thousand nineteen, said ambulance worker shall receive six hundred fifty dollars per week during the continuance thereof.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00193-01-9
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.