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The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York was organized and incorporated in the early 1870s for the purpose of protecting the interests of volunteer firefighters in New York State. Part of FASNY’s corporate mission is to maintain, support and serve the volunteer fire service and the public through legislative advocacy in New York State. FASNY retains a Legislative Representative to advise the Legislative Committee and to work with its members to carry out FASNY’s legislative agenda.
The FASNY Legislative Committee is responsible for the development and advocacy of FASNY’s annual legislative program. The legislative program, commonly referred to as the FASNY Scorecard, consists of legislative bill proposals and other FASNY resolutions.
Members of FASNY have gathered together for more than 70 years, region by region, to determine FASNY’s legislative program. In October of each year, FASNY conducts its Legislative Conference. At the conference, the FASNY Legislative Committee reviews items from the prior year’s agenda and discusses the new proposals raised by the membership for the coming year. Sectional and county organizations also discuss these matters in their respective caucuses during the conference. A comprehensive list of all possible legislative items is then compiled by the FASNY Legislative Committee. The committee then submits these legislative proposals to the FASNY members present at the conference. The conference culminates with a vote of the FASNY membership in attendance to determine which legislative proposals will comprise the FASNY legislative program for the coming year.
After the FASNY legislative program is established, the FASNY Legislative Committee, together with the FASNY Legislative Representative, embarks on an assertive lobbying and advocacy campaign aimed at getting FASNY’s legislative items passed in the New York State Legislature and signed by the Governor.
The lobbying and advocacy campaigns typically include:
- Meetings and discussions with state legislators
- Meetings and discussions with the Governor’s office
- Meetings and discussions with regulatory agencies
- Arranging and coordinating the FASNY legislative day at the Capital
- Preparation of educational materials relating to FASNY’s issues
- Preparation of memoranda in support of or opposition to legislative bills
- Providing testimony at public hearings
- Monitoring and analyzing legislative bills and budget initiatives
- Coordinating regional legislative updates at sectional meetings
- Arranging and coordinating the Legislative Conference in October
- Answering questions from FASNY members
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