BILL NUMBER: S6654
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law and the state finance law, in
relation to creating a volunteer firefighter training fund; and making
an appropriation therefor
 
PURPOSE:
Creates a volunteer firefighter training fund and makes an appropriation
for same.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 72-g of the general municipal law to allow the
chief officer of a fire department of a municipality or fire district to
apply for money from the volunteer firefighter training fund.
Section 2 amends the state finance law by creating a new Volunteer Fire-
fighter Training Fund under the joint custody of the state comptroller
and the commissioner of taxation and finance. The fund will consist of
revenues from contributions, donations and moneys appropriated. The fund
is designated for training of volunteer firefighters and will be paid
out on vouchers certified b) the comptroller.
Section 3 allocates $1 million to the Volunteer Firefighter Training
Fund with such moneys payable on the audit and warrant of the comp-
troller.
Section 4 enacts the effective date to be 180 days after the bill is
signed into law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Our local fire departments continue to struggle financially and recruit
and train new volunteers to join their ranks. This bill aims to help
those departments with funding to train new recruits.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024- S.8518- Finance Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
180 days after bill becomes law

Statutes affected:
S6654: 72-g general municipal law