What's happening
This bill requires the Office of Fire Prevention and Control to study and report on minimum qualifications for volunteer firefighters in New York.
Why it matters
Could influence future standards. By evaluating current training, coursework, and certification requirements, the study may lead to recommendations that shape or raise the minimum qualifications for volunteer firefighters across New York, affecting recruitment and preparedness.
Addresses regional needs and challenges. The study must consider factors like geography, local industries, and community demographics, which means it could highlight unique risks or gaps in volunteer firefighter readiness in different parts of the state.
Impacts training resources and access. The review includes the availability of courses, trainers, and resources, which could identify shortages or barriers that prevent people from becoming or remaining volunteer firefighters—potentially informing future investments or policy changes.
Supports informed legislative action. The required report to state leaders ensures decision-makers will have up-to-date, comprehensive data when considering changes to laws or funding related to volunteer firefighting, potentially leading to systemic improvements in public safety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Volunteer Firefighter Standards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.461
- Referred to finance
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.714
- Referred to finance
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.
Study Volunteer Firefighter Requirements
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
178
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 Finance
AN ACT to direct the office of fire prevention and control to conduct a study which evaluates the minimum recommended qualifications to becoming a volunteer firefighter
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The office of fire prevention and control shall conduct a study that examines and evaluates the recommended minimum qualifications for volunteer firefighters.
(a) The type of settings included in the study shall be subject to funds available but include, at minimum, the coursework required to test for the Firefighter certification, or the Firefighter Recruit I and II certifications, as defined in part 426 of title 19 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, the recommended number of hours of training, availability of training courses and resources, availability of trainers, and minimum qualifications for trainers.
(b) The study shall take into account factors including, but not limited to: geographical region, prominent industries in that region, demographics of populations and demand for volunteer firefighters.
§ 2. Within twelve months of the effective date of this act, the office of fire prevention and control shall submit a report detailing the findings of the study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04991-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the office of fire prevention and control to conduct a study which evaluates the minimum recommended qualifications to becoming a volunteer firefighter
Purpose or general idea of bill
The Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) shall conduct a study that examines and evaluates the minimum qualifications recommended for volunteer firefighters. In addition, this legislation would require OFPC, within 12 months, to report on the findings of this study to the Governor, Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly.
Summary of specific provisions
Sections 1: Directs OFPC to conduct a study, which evaluates the minimum qualifications recommended to becoming a volunteer firefighter
Section 2: Directs OFPC, within 12 months, to report the findings of such study to the Governor, Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly.
Section 3: Provides an immediate effective date.
Justification
Recently, there has been a growing shortage of volunteer firefighters across the entire country and specifically, New York State. This can be attributed, among various factors, to a change in the economy, which promotes two-income households and working multiple jobs. Because of this shift, many people do not have the time to dedicate to becoming a volunteer firefighter. Those who do decide to become volunteer fire- fighters and undergo training, oftentimes are required to dedicate upwards of 20 hours a week on top of their regular employment to complete this training.
In addition to the additional hours, many firefighters who undergo these trainings have to travel long distances because of a lack of training courses close to home. This adds time onto the commitment of completing the qualifications and serving the community. Federal regulations apply to all fire departments in New York State and require that members be provided with training and education commensurate with the duties and functions that such members are expected to perform. OFPC and the Department of Labor's Public Employees Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) and fire service organizations have developed a recommended set of "Best Practices" for use by fire departments to assist fire departments in complying with the Federal regulations. The goal of this study is for OFPC to evaluate these minimum qualifications, or best practices, recom- mended to become a volunteer firefighter while considering the shortage that is having an effect on communities across the state.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.