What's happening
This bill allows youth program participants in fire departments to be present at emergencies in designated safe areas but not perform hazardous duties.
Why it matters
Expands youth learning opportunities. By allowing youth program participants to be present at emergency scenes (in designated safe areas), the bill gives young people a chance to observe real fire department operations, potentially increasing interest in firefighting careers and community service.
Maintains clear safety boundaries. The bill prohibits youth participants from engaging in hazardous activities (like entering burning structures or responding with lights and sirens), ensuring their safety while still permitting them to learn in controlled environments.
Clarifies legal status and protections. Youth participants are explicitly not classified as “active volunteer firefighters” under state law, which means they are not entitled to the same benefits or responsibilities—protecting both the youth and fire departments from legal or liability complications.
Empowers local fire department leadership. The requirement that all youth activities be pre-approved by the fire chief (or their designee) ensures that local leadership retains oversight and can tailor participation to the specific needs and safety protocols of their department.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Youth at Fire Scenes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
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 Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Brian Manktelow
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
167
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to participants in youth programs sponsored by fire departments
Purpose
This bill will allow for an increased amount of exposure for youth programs in order to facilitate more of a learning experience for participants interested in the firefighting field.
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend Section 1, subdivision 5 of section 204-b of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 386 of the laws of 1978.
Justification
Current laws prohibit student volunteers to observe an active emergency. This bill will allow observation of an active emergency with stipu- lations that will be regulated by the chief, which will include safe areas for the volunteer to observe and still allow for a learning expe- rience.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.2571 passed Senate/ A.7085 referred to Local Governments 2017: S.2571 passed Senate/ A.7085 referred to Local Governments 2015-2016: S.4579/A.5833 referred to Local Governments 2013-2014: S.4933/A.6663 referred to Local Governments 2012: S.4713 passed Senate/A.5292 referred to Local Governments
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This law shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.