BILL NUMBER: S8074
SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law and the executive law, in
relation to battery storage fire training for firefighters
 
PURPOSE:
Establishes a battery storage fire training program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 209-w of the general municipal law,
as amended by section 10 of part A of chapter 101 of the laws of 2013,
is amended to read as follows:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special, or local law,
a basic fire training program and an approved battery storage training
program for the temporary or probationary fire fighters and is awarded a
certificate by the state fire administrator.
§ 2. Section 158 of the executive law as added by section 28 of part B
of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 158. Firefighter training. 1. For the purpose of this section, the
term fire fighter shall mean a member of a fire department whose duties
include fire service.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eighteenth day after
it shall have become law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Section one of this bill adds the completion of an approved battery
storage fire training program to the list of qualifications required for
someone to become a firefighter. This standardized program will be
promulgated by the state fire commissioner. This additional requirement
will protect both firefighters and the community. With New York State's
goal of 1,500 MW of energy storage by 2025 and 3,000 MW by 2030, commu-
nities are being forced to build battery storage systems that are known
to cause dangerous fires. After several fires broke out in separate
Battery Energy Storage Systems, Governor Hochul established the intera-
gency fire safety working group. The group would conduct a root cause
and emergency response analysis. This does not go far enough. With the
state's energy storage goals, more fires are to be expected, and there-
fore firefighters must be prepared. It is imperative that firefighters
have the training and knowledge to deal with these specific types of
fires. Putting out lithium-ion battery fires requires a specific
approach. Requiring that all firefighters complete such training will
keep them safe while dealing with such fires, and will better help them
put out fires, therefore protecting the communities they serve.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eighteenth day after it
shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S8074: 209-w general municipal law, 209-w(1) general municipal law, 158 executive law