What's happening
This bill allows local governments to raise taxes beyond the cap to fund enhanced cancer disability benefits for volunteer firefighters.
Why it matters
Ensures funding for volunteer firefighter cancer benefits. By letting local governments raise taxes beyond the tax cap for this specific purpose, the bill helps guarantee there will be reliable funding for enhanced cancer disability benefits promised to volunteer firefighters.
Protects local budgets from tough trade-offs. Without this exemption, local governments might have to cut other critical services or programs to afford the required cancer benefits for volunteers, so this bill helps avoid those difficult budget choices.
Recognizes the health risks faced by volunteer firefighters. The measure acknowledges the heightened cancer risks associated with firefighting and signals a policy commitment to support volunteers who serve their communities, potentially encouraging recruitment and retention.
Prevents increased local political friction. Because the tax cap override is automatic for these benefits, local officials can provide promised support to firefighters without needing to secure a super-majority vote or face backlash for overriding the general tax cap.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Boost Cancer Aid for Firefighters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Help Cancer-Stricken Firefighters
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Kevin Cahill
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5854
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GAUGHRAN -- 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 providing enhanced cancer disability benefits to volunteer firefighters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (g) of subdivision 2 of section 3-c of the general municipal law, as added by section 1 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended and a new subparagraph (v) is added to read as follows:
(iv) in years in which the normal contribution rate of the New York state teachers' retirement system, as defined by paragraph a of subdivision two of section five hundred seventeen of the education law, increases by more than two percentage points from the previous year, a tax levy necessary for expenditures for the coming fiscal year for local government employer contributions to the New York state teachers' retirement system caused by growth in the normal contribution rate minus two percentage points[.];
(v) a tax levy necessary for expenditures resulting from a local government meeting its obligation to provide enhanced cancer disability benefits to volunteer firefighters as required under section two hundred five-cc of this chapter.
§ 2. Subdivision 5 of section 3-c of the general municipal law, as added by section 1 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
5. A local government may adopt a budget that requires a tax levy that is greater than the tax levy limit for the coming fiscal year, not including any levy necessary to support the expenditures pursuant to subparagraphs (i) through [(iv)] (v) of paragraph g of subdivision two of this section, only if the governing body of such local government first enacts, by a vote of sixty percent of the total voting power of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06119-01-9
S. 5854 2
such body, a local law to override such limit for such coming fiscal year only, or in the case of a district or fire district, a resolution, approved by a vote of sixty percent of the total voting power of such body, to override such limit for such coming fiscal year only.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivisions 2 and 5 of section 3-c of the general municipal law made by sections one and two of this act, respectively, shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed to be repealed therewith. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective 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 general municipal law, in relation to providing enhanced cancer disability benefits to volunteer firefight- ers
Summary
Section 1 would amend paragraph (g)of subdivision 2 of section 3-c of the general municipal law by adding a new subparagraph (v) that would exempt tax levies implemented to fund enhanced cancer disability insur- ance benefits for volunteer firefighters from the definition of "Tax Levy Limit."
Section 2 would make a technical amendment to subdivision 5 of section 3-c of the general municipal law to include a reference to the new subparagraph (v) created in section one of this act.
Section 3 provides for the effective date.
Justification
Chapter 334 of the laws of 2017 required all fire districts, departments and companies to provide and maintain enhanced cancer disability insur- ance coverage for each eligible volunteer firefighter by January 1, 2019. To aid municipalities in securing these benefits, the State enacted chapter 248 of the laws of 2018 which exempted the acquisition cost of these insurance plans from fire district spending limitations contained in the town law. Unfortunately, this bill did not exempt these benefits from the real property tax cap. Therefore, under the current law a fire district can spend as much money as it needs to acquire the enhanced cancer disability insurance benefits for volunteer firefight- ers, but any tax imposed to cover the cost of said benefits needs to fall within the 2% tax cap. This deficiency in the law places an undue burden on fire districts and forces departments to choose between the health of its volunteers and necessary services and equipment. This bill would amend the general municipal law to exempt any taxes levied by municipalities to acquire enhanced cancer disability benefits for volun- teer firefighters from the real property tax cap.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivisions 2 and 5 of section 3-c of the general munici- pal law made by sections one and two of this act, respectively, shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed to be repealed therewith. Effective immediately, the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec- tive date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.