Issues of United Concern

New York State Fire Service Alliance

2025 Legislative Agenda

 
The Fire Service Alliance, consisting of the above Associations, gathered in Troy on December 7, 2024 to develop the below priorities from each Association’s respective legislative agendas. The initiatives below were identified priorities and are to be advocated for through mutual efforts.
 
2025 BUDGET ITEMS

Not yet available

MAKE PERMANENT EMS COST RECOVERY:

This law, which has been in effect for four years, enables fire departments, which were previously not allowed to bill for ambulance services, to start doing so. We will seek the introduction, and passage of legislation to make the law permanent.


DESIGNATE EMS AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND EXPAND THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO EMS PERSONNEL AND SET STANDARDS FOR EMS:

Recognizes EMS as an essential service, establishes a special district for the financing and operation of general ambulance services, expands access to health insurance and retirement benefits available to EMS providers. S.4020-C/A.3392-C (Mayer/Otis)


BUILDING CODES:

Support adoption of the 2024 International Code Council Building Codes including Residential Sprinklers in one- and two-family homes.


ENSURE VFBL PARITY WITH WORKERS COMPENSATION:

Bring the Volunteer Firefighters Benefits Law [VFBL] pay equal to Worker's Compensation Law pay that career firefighters receive when injured in the line of duty.  S.5436/A.5991 (Skoufis/McMahon)


MAKE PERMANENT HEART AND LUNG PRESUMPTION:

Seek legislation to make permanent laws relating to a presumption in favor of line of duty disability due to heart and lung disease. (S.1180 / A.3033 - Heart (Harckham / Zebrowski and S.1176 / A.5364 - Lung (Harckham / Levenberg).


CONTINUE TO IMPROVE TAX BENEFITS FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS:

Push to allow volunteer firefighters to receive both real property tax exemptions and income tax credit, while continuing to advocate for an income tax credit increase (has been at $200 since its inception in 2006.) This credit would provide for a step increase tied to qualifying years of service up to $2,500 for 10 or more consecutive qualifying years of service. S.7286-A / A.7524-A (Martinez / Thiele)


FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM ACT:

Support legislation that creates a legal framework specifically for a peer support program tailored for first responders, aiming to bolster mental health resources and support within this community. S.7079-A / A.7552-A (Harckham/Burdick)


                       Not yet available for download - IUC described above
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