2023 Legislative Agenda
FASNY’s legislative program is a time-honored process. For more than 88 years, members have gathered region by region at FASNY’s fall Legislative Conference to determine their proactive legislative program. Legislative proposals come from every area of the state and are approved by voice vote from membership to be brought to the Legislature for consideration. As bills are introduced, they are entered on FASNY’s legislative agenda (Scorecard), which is circulated on a regular basis, so members may mark their progress and write to the sponsors in support.
ENSURE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER BENEFIT LAW PARITY WITH WORKERS COMPENSATION — Bring the volunteer firefighters’ benefit law pay equal to workers’ compensation/what career firefighters receive when injured in the line of duty.
Corresponding legislation: S.1340 (Brooks) / A.3597 (McMahon)
In 2021 legislation was signed to bring temporary total disability benefits up to $650 for volunteers (S.1318-A Gaughran /A.1324-A Magnarelli).
DESIGNATE EMS AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE, EXPAND THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO EMS PERSONNEL, AND SET STANDARDS FOR EMS — Recognizes EMS as an essential service, establishes a special district for the financing and operation of general ambulance services, and expands access to health insurance and retirement benefits available to EMS providers.
Corresponding legislation: S.8432-A (Mayer) / A.9509-A (Otis)
Introduced in 2022. Failed to advance out of Local Governments in both houses last year.
AMEND PENAL CODE TO ADD ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF OCCUPANTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS — Make it a crime to illegally circumvent uniform code by making illegal conversions a charge of “Endangering the welfare of fire and emergency personnel.” Landlords make conversions so they can make more money off the properties without obtaining proper permits. The conversions may not have proper egress and could create an extremely dangerous situation for firefighters.
Corresponding legislation: S.3741 (Gaughran) / A.6087 (Zebrowski)
Introduced in 2014. Failed to advance out of the Codes Committee in both houses in the past six years. The Senate sponsor has left the legislature.
REVISION OF PERMISSION FOR DEPARTMENTS TO APPOINT, AND OFPC/COUNTIES FUND, MUNICIPAL TRAINING OFFICERS — Amend the regulatory structure to allow departments with less than five career, or all volunteer, firefighters to appoint a municipal training officer with all powers to deliver New York state fire training programs at the local level. Office of Fire Prevention and Control and counties would pay for the cost for time incurred from the counties’ training hour allotment. This would allow local departments, once certified, to teach the following basic classes in house and ease the burden: Interior Firefighting Operations (FFI), FFII, Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations.
SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR HOME LIFE SAFETY PRODUCTS — Would provide a sales tax exemption on home life safety products purchased in New York state.
Corresponding legislation: S.1382 (Brooks) / A.777 (Wallace)
Was first introduced in 2008 and has failed to move out of originating committee in either house.
AMEND THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW IN RELATION TO THE “FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM ACT” — A 2017 study found that more firefighters and police officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. The study further found that these first responders, including EMS, are at an increased risk for mental illnesses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Corresponding legislation: S.6955 (Serino) / No Assembly bill
AMEND THE TAX LAW TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR COUNTIES TO IMPLEMENT NEXT-GEN 911 SERVICES — The state has diverted surcharge revenue collected from wireless and landline phone bills to the state General Fund. The money is supposed to be used to support county 911 and enhanced 911 services known as Public Service Answering Points.
Corresponding legislation: Likely pending legislation from Assembly Member Amy Paulin
This has been on FASNY agenda in the past.
AMEND GML-dd QUALIFICATIONS OF A FIRE CHIEF — Change the minimum standard of career firefighters from six to a more reasonable number such as 25 or to more than 40 career firefighters.
RECOVERY OF 54-G FUNDING TO SUPPORT CODE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS — Ensure state funds collected through dedicated fees on each fire policy written in the state go to support local code enforcement activities and not continue to be swept into the state’s General Fund.
Corresponding legislation: S.6970-A (Kavanagh) / A.8802-A (Zebrowski)
PRIORITIES FOR CONSIDERATION
LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SAFETY STANDARDS — Ensure the Association is the trusted public safety voice in the larger conversation regarding the safety and regulation of products that contain lithium-ion batteries (i.e., electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters and other micro-mobility devices.) Achieve this by advocating for a roundtable of stakeholders, as well as raising awareness around the issue with the general public and decisionmakers.
CANCER COVERAGE COST RELIEF — Pursue data collection to enable (1) establishment of a funding stream to alleviate fiscal burden on districts/departments providing the coverage and (2) examine streamlining policy and payment by folding cancer coverage into Volunteer Firefighter Benefit Law.
STATEWIDE REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION — Add Sen. Reichlin-Melnick’s and Assemblymember Zebrowski’s real property tax statewide legislation back onto Scorecard, if not signed by governor.
NYS 2023-24 BUDGET
The following issues will be pursued during the budget process, but will not appear on the FASNY Scorecard:
ADVOCATE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAINING MATERIALS AND CLASSES
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE TAX BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS — Push to allow volunteer firefighters to receive both real property tax exemptions and income tax credit, while continuing to advocate for an income tax credit increase (has been at $200 since its inception in 2006.) This credit would step increase tied to qualifying years of service up to $2,500 for 10 or more consecutive qualifying years of service.
Corresponding legislation: S.3989-A (Reichlin Melnick) / A.1320-A (Zebrowski)