BILL NUMBER: S208
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to a credit for hunting and
fishing license fees for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance
workers
 
PURPOSE:
To provide a tax credit to volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambu-
lance workers for hunting and fishing license fees.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Grants a tax credit to volunteer firefighters and volunteer
ambulance workers for the fee for fishing licenses as well as small and
big game hunting licenses. Also establishes that any excess from such
tax credit may be carried over to following years.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers contribute their
time, often while risking their own safety, to provide a vital service
for their communities, and all of this is done without any compensation.
In a recently released report, FASNY found that volunteer firefighters
save New Yorkers approximately $3 billion annually. Providing a tax
credit for fishing, small game and big game hunting license fees for
these heroes and volunteers is a small but meaningful way of showing our
appreciation, especially when compared to the magnitude of the services
and safety they provide.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.4553 referred to Investigations and Government/A.4385
referred to Environmental Conservation
2021-2022: S.3747 referred to Investigations and Government
Operations/A.5211 referred to Environmental Conservation
2019-2020: S.1317 referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2017-2018: S.2166 referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2016: S.6690-A referred to Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S208: 606 tax law