Establishes a municipal group insurance technical assistance program

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic1

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Christopher Ryan says this is needed

According to the Office of the State Comptroller, as of 2017 there are approximately eight hundred and eighty-six independent fire districts in the State, which cover areas of towns excluding villages. Of those districts, there are about 90,000 volunteer firefighters who spend their free time in service to their communities. Volunteer firefighters make up roughly 83.3i, of the State's firefighting workforce. The current structure of fire districts and fire companies form a patchwork-like system of protection across the State. To be clear, every New Yorker should feel safe knowing that if there is a fire in their home or place of business, firefighters will show up to extinguish the blaze. However, it is clear that the resources available to and support of the myriad fire districts and companies need to be strengthened and bolstered. In 1956, the Legislature created the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law, which is a chapter of the State Laws that is specifically, tailored to assist volunteer firefighters. Since the initial chapter, sixty-seven years ago, the law has mostly remained the same. So completely unchanged has this section of law been that in the half century since enactment the language has been amended on average approximately twice a decade. Furthermore, other sections of State law see regular updates, with certain sections of law seeing amendments once or even twice in the same year. State support is difficult to procure with a system of by zantine laws from a half century ago. This bill would establish an assistance program to help volunteer firefighters and the municipalities that contract for their services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.