BILL NUMBER: S906
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 606 of the laws of 2006, amending the volunteer
firefighters' benefit law, relating to creating a presumption relating
to certain lung disabilities incurred by volunteer firefighters, in
relation to making such provisions permanent
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to make permanent the long-standing
law governing disability determinations for volunteer firefighters due
to disease or malfunction of the lungs.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends chapter 606 relating to the Volunteer Firefighter Bene-
fit Law that governs disability resulting from lung disease by making
this provision permanent instead of maintaining the process heretofore
used to continually renewing its sunset date.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In the line of duty, firefighters are exposed to gasses, toxins and
other substances that have damaging effects on the respiratory system
both short and long term. Firefighters experience risks for lung disease
at significantly higher rates compared to the average adult population
because of contact with numerous harmful chemicals from combustions.
This legislation would permanently extend a long-standing and successful
safety net for all volunteer firefighters.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022-2024: S1176 - Passed Senate/Died in Local Government
2021-2022: S2973 - Passed Senate
2019-2020: S5419/A7352 - Advanced to Third Reading/Died in Local Govern-
ment
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.