What's happening
This bill makes permanent the presumption that certain lung disabilities in volunteer firefighters are work-related.
Why it matters
Provides long-term security for volunteer firefighters. By making the presumption permanent, volunteer firefighters with certain lung disabilities will not have to worry about this protection expiring, ensuring ongoing access to benefits if they become ill.
Reduces the burden of proof on affected firefighters. The permanent presumption means that qualifying lung conditions will be assumed work-related, simplifying the process for volunteers seeking benefits and reducing legal hurdles.
May impact local government and benefit fund stability. Making this presumption permanent could have financial implications for municipalities or benefit funds that cover volunteer firefighters, potentially increasing long-term costs or requiring adjustments to funding.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Volunteer Firefighters' Lungs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.442
- Referred to local government
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 2 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.940
- 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.
Permanent Lung Protection for Firefighters
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5419
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 30, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend chapter 606 of the laws of 2006, amending the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, relating to creating a presumption relating to certain lung disabilities incurred by volunteer firefighters, in relation to making such provisions permanent
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2 of chapter 606 of the laws of 2006, amending the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, relating to creating a presumption relating to certain lung disabilities incurred by volunteer firefighters, as amended by chapter 25 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately [and shall expire and be deemed repealed June 30, 2020].
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10183-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 606 of the laws of 2006, amending the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, relating to creating a presumption relating to certain lung disabilities incurred by volunteer firefighters, in relation to making such provisions permanent
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to make permanent the long-standing law governing disability determinations for volunteer firefighters due to disease or malfunction of the lungs.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends chapter 606 of the laws of 2006 relating to the Volun- teer Firefighter Benefit Law that governs disability resulting from lung disease by making this provision permanent instead of maintaining the process heretofore used to continually renewing its sunset date.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
In the line of duty, firefighters are exposed to gases, toxins and other substances that have damaging short-term and long term effects on the respiratory system. Firefighters experience risks for lung disease at significantly higher rates compared to the average adult population because of contact to numerous harmful chemicals from combustions. This legislation would permanently extend a long-standing and successful safety net for all volunteer firefighters.
Legislative history
New bill makes permanent chapter 667 of the Laws of 1977, most recently extended by Chapter 282 of the Laws of 2010 and Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2015.
Fiscal implications
None to the State
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.