BILL NUMBER: S1606
SPONSOR: BORRELLO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to providing that
each fire district, department or company required to provide enhanced
cancer disability benefits for volunteer fire fighters pursuant to
section two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law shall be enti-
tled to reimbursement by the state for payments made in order to obtain
the insurance coverage necessary to satisfy the requirements of section
two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide annual reimbursement to fire districts, departments or compa-
nies for insurance coverage of volunteer fire fighters upon application.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 is adding a new section 205-ccc to general municipal law.
1. Each fire district, department or company will receive reimbursement
in order to provide insurance coverage necessary for volunteer fire
fighters.
2. Each fire district, department or company will be eligible for annual
reimbursement upon application. The office of fire prevention and
control will be charged with approving or denying applications.
3. The office of fire prevention and control with the department of
financial services will create an application process and implement
necessary rules and regulations.
4. The amount of reimbursement will be limited to what was spent in the
prior fiscal year on insurance coverage.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 334 of 2017 established section 205-cc of the General Municipal
Law in order to require fire districts, departments and companies within
NYS to provide interior volunteer firefighters with benefits in the
event they are diagnosed with cancer. In order to ensure such benefits
are available when needed, the law requires fire district, departments
and companies to obtain insurance coverage sufficient to satisfy poten-
tial claims.
The requirement for additional insurance coverage represents an unfunded
mandate that to our local fire districts, departments and companies.
This legislation would provide a mechanism by which those required to
obtain additional insurance coverage to satisfy the 2017 chapter can be
reimbursed for the increased expenses.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.4935 : 2019-2020
A5885 - 05/10/22 held for consideration in local governments
2023: S5951/A1999 Referred to Local Government
2024: S5951/A1999 Referred to Local Government
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Not Determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become law.