BILL NUMBER: S5432
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and the volun-
teer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to increasing the
amount of certain benefits
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to update the disability benefits afforded
to volunteer fire and ambulance workers
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends section 8 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law
to provide an increase in permanent disability benefits to twelve
hundred dollars per week from the current six hundred dollars.
Section 2: Amends section 9 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law
to provide an increase in temporary total disability benefits to eight
hundred dollars per week from the current four hundred dollars.
Section 3: Amends section 10 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law
to increase permanent partial disability benefits to eight hundred
dollars per week from the current four hundred dollars. Further, this
section increases the maximum compensation for disfigurement from forty
thousand to twenty thousand. Additionally, this section increases thres-
holds for varying levels of earning loss.
Section 4: Amends subdivision 1 of section 11 of the volunteer fire-
fighters' benefit law to provide an increase in the maximum compensation
when lost earnings capacity is seventy-five percent or greater to eight
hundred dollars per week from four hundred dollars.
Section 5: Amends section 8 of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit
law to provide an increase in permanent disability benefits to twelve
hundred dollars per week from the current six hundred dollars.
Section 6: Amends section 9 of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit
law to provide an increase in temporary total disability benefits to
eight hundred dollars per week from the current four hundred dollars.
Section 7: Amends subdivision of section 10 of the volunteer ambulance
workers' benefit law to increase permanent partial disability benefits
to eight hundred dollars per week from the current four hundred dollars.
Furthermore, this section increases the maximum compensation for disfig-
urement from twenty thousand to forty thousand. Additionally, this
section increases thresholds for varying levels of potential earning
loss.
Section 8: Amends section 11 of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit
law to increase the maximum compensation when lost earnings capacity is
seventy-five percent or greater to eight hundred dollars per week from
four hundred dollars.
Section 9: Sets Effective Date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Volunteer fire and ambulance personnel selflessly risk their lives to
serve their communities. They undertake critical duties such as entering
burning buildings, responding to natural disasters, and managing public
health emergencies. These dedicated individuals perform their responsi-
bilities without compensation despite the inherent dangers to their
safety, careers, and families.
When injuries occur, the Volunteer Benefits Law provides essential
support, including healthcare coverage, wage compensation, and other
necessary assistance. These benefits offer volunteer first responders
peace of mind, knowing they and their families will be cared for in
times of need.
However, many of these benefits have not been updated in decades, with
most compensation thresholds last revised in the 1990s. As a result,
they no longer adequately reflect current economic realities. This
legislation seeks to modernize and enhance these benefits to ensure they
provide appropriate and meaningful support to those who risk their lives
in service to others.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2019: N/A
2020: S8086A, Amend and Recommit to Local Government
2021: S1340, Referred to Local Government
2022: S1340, Referred to Local Government
2023: S5436, Referred to Local Government
2024: S5436, Referred to Local Government
Assembly
2019: N/A
2020: A10300A, Amend and Recommit to Local Governments
2021: A3597, Referred to Local Governments
2022: A3597, Referred to Local Governments
2023: A5991, Referred to Local Governments
2024: A5991, Referred to Local Governments
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.