What's happening
This bill authorizes and regulates "fire patrols" in Richmond County, defining their powers, vehicle status, and relationship with fire departments, with a five-year sunset provision.
Why it matters
Defines and restricts "fire patrols" to Richmond County. , creating a specialized status for these organizations and ensuring their activities are localized, which could impact local emergency response and property protection in that area.
Grants fire patrols certain emergency powers. such as entering burning or threatened buildings to protect property—but only when expressly permitted by the fire department in charge, emphasizing coordination and a subordinate role to official agencies, which may help avoid confusion or conflict at emergency scenes.
Gives fire patrol vehicles official "authorized emergency vehicle" status. , allowing them to use emergency vehicle privileges (like lights and sirens), potentially improving response times and effectiveness, but also placing responsibility on patrols to operate safely and within defined limits.
Includes a five-year sunset provision. , meaning these changes are temporary unless renewed, offering a built-in opportunity for lawmakers and the community to assess the program’s impact, effectiveness, and any unintended consequences before making it permanent.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Fire Patrol Organizations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- 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.
Let Groups Call Themselves Fire Patrols
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3265
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- 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.
LBD00078-01-9
S. 3265 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
2018:S.2604 - Passed Senate/A.1376- Referred to Codes 2017: S.2604 - Passed Senate/A.1376- Referred to Corporations 2016: S.2544 - Passed Senate/A.503 - Reported to Rules 2015: S.2544 - Passed Senate/A.503 - Reported to Rules 2014: S.3981 - Passed Senate/A.5253 - Reported to Rules 2013: S.3981 - Passed Senate/A.5253 - Reported to Rules 2012: S.5573-D - Passed Senate/ A.8117-D - Died in Rules 2011: S.5573- Passed Senate / A.8117 -- Referred to Corporations
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.