Relates to a presumption for Parkinson's disease

Latest action Apr 21, 2026

Provides that where any condition of impairment of health caused by Parkinson's disease, resulting in total or partial disability or death to a volunteer firefighter, where such volunteer firefighter successfully passed a physical examination on entry into such service or subsequent thereto, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of such condition, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence; and was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A9655, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law.

Committee

Local Government · New York State Senate

Also referred to Local Governments · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Assembly, Rules · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would make it easier for volunteer firefighters to receive Volunteer Firefighter Benefits Law coverage for Parkinson's disease.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Local Government
Senate Local GovernmentApr 21, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Stacey Pheffer Amato

Democratic1

Stacey Pheffer Amato

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Siela Bynoe says this is needed

The increased use of plastics and other chemical compounds over the last several decades has drastically increased the types of exposure fire- fighters face when combatting fires. Recent research suggests that ingestion of certain toxins has increasingly been linked to the diagno- sis of Parkinson's disease, and according to a study conducted by the Neurotoxin Institute, Parkinson's disease rates are higher among volun- teer firefighters than in the general population. Chapter 704 of the Laws of 2021 provided a presumption with respect to Parkinson's disease that results in death or disability to paid fire- fighters. This legislation would provide the same presumption for volun- teer firefighters.

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.

Full history

Apr 21, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 28, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jan 21, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NY Senate
Sep 8, 2025
Enacting Clause Stricken
ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN
NY Assembly

Show full history (3 earlier events)

Jun 6, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RULES
NY Senate
Feb 11, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Feb 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 3, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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