BILL NUMBER: S1825
SPONSOR: ASHBY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to
using a portion of the public safety communications surcharge to support
volunteer fire department initiatives
 
PURPOSE:
To divert monies collected from the public safety communications
surcharge into a newly created fund known as the New York State Volun-
teer Fire Department Auxiliary Fund. This fund will support volunteer
fire departments within the state by providing them with funding for
equipment and recruitment and retention programs.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Diverts funds collected from the public safety communica-
tions-surcharge from the general fund and into the New York State Volun-
teer Fire Department Auxiliary Fund.
Section 2. Establishes the New York State Volunteer Fire Department
Auxiliary Fund, which will be run jointly by the State Comptroller and
Commissioner of Taxation and Finance. It will be used to provide volun-
teer fire departments with grants for the purchase of personal protec-
tive equipment, turnout gear, hazmat systems, communications technology,
renovation or restoration of buildings that contain fire department
apparatus, or any necessary expenses to fund any service related to
recruitment and retention programs.
Section 3. Establishes the Effective Date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Unlike paid municipal fire departments, volunteer fire departments are
funded through local budgets that often do not have the financial
resources to provide fire companies with the equipment and personnel
needed to keep communities safe. The public safety communications
surcharge which collects a fee for every wireless access line within the
state to support interoperable communications programs within the state,
transfers roughly 41% of its revenue into the State general fund. This
money would be far more useful if it were distributed to fire depart-
ments within the State who need resources to provide their lifesaving
services.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.4838 -Referred to Budget and Revenue
2021-2022: S.06477 - Referred to Budget & Revenue Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
41.7% of funds collected from PSCS will now be diverted away from the
general fund.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
First January 1 after enactment.

Statutes affected:
S1825: 186-f tax law, 186-f(5) tax law