NYSAFC Announces 2016 Legislative Agenda

New York State Association of Fire Chiefs 2016 Legislative Agenda

Residential Fire Sprinklers: NYSAFC will continue to pursue adoption of the 2015 IRC to include provisions for residential fire sprinklers. NYSAFC will make a particular push for sprinklers in townhouses during the public comment period of the rulemaking process.

Cancer Presumption Legislation: NYSAFC will support passage of Cancer Presumption Legislation for volunteer firefighters. This is the same benefit that is provided for career firefighters. (A.5518 Brindisi / S.3891 Nozzolio – passed the Senate in 2015)

EMS Billing: NYSAFC will actively support enactment of legislation to provide fairness in EMS billing by allowing fire departments and fire districts to bill for the provision of EMS. (A.3721 Brindisi / S.1914 Little)

Enforcement of Illegal Occupancies: NYSAFC will support enactment of legislation addressing building code enforcement and illegal building conversions, which place the lives of the public and firefighters in jeopardy.

Upholstered Furniture Standards: NYSAFC will support enactment of legislation providing for upholstered furniture safety standards. (S.5585 O’Mara)

VFBL/VAWBL: NYSAFC will support enactment of VFBL/VAWBL revisions to increase the amount paid for permanent disability of volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.

Retirement Earnings: NYSAFC will support an amendment to the Retirement and Social Security Law to increase the cap on retirement earnings for retired firefighters working as fire service teachers and instructors. (A.4876 Gunther / S.2747 Larkin)

2016 Issues of United Concern Legislative Agenda

The "Issues of United Concern" is presented by the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York, Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, New York State Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association, and the Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York.

Cancer Presumption: Amend the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law, adding a new section 11-d to provide a presumption that a volunteer firefighter who was cancer-free when they commenced service and now has one of several specifically identified cancers incurred such condition in the performance and discharge of their duties. (A.5518 Gunther / S.3891 Nozzolio)

Code Enforcement/Illegal Conversions: Enact legislation to provide criminal sanctions and/or enhanced civil penalties when unauthorized, illegal modifications to buildings in violation of the Uniform Code and/or local laws create conditions that are hazardous to ingress, egress, and/or firefighting efforts. Numerous injuries/deaths to residents and firefighters have occurred in such circumstances. Three existing bills deal with Uniform Code enforcement and toughened sanctions: S.2991-B Martins / A.6154-A Schimel, S.1189 Carlucci / A.2865 Zebrowski, and S.4638 Martins / A.5856 Zebrowski. One bill would create a felony when such a violation impedes egress and results in injury or death to emergency personnel (including firefighters) – S.1188-A Carlucci / A.5539-A Zebrowski.

Fair Billing for Ambulance Service: Remove the prohibition in the General Municipal Law against fire companies, departments, or districts billing for providing ambulance service. Municipal and volunteer ambulance services provide exactly the same services and they can bill Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers; emergency medical services units within firefighting entities cannot exclusively because of this prohibition. (S.1914 Little / A.3721 Brindisi)

Permit Employment of Retired Firefighters as Fire Science Instructors: Retired firefighters who are less than 65 years of age who are employed as fire science instructors by state or local governments risk severe pension reduction penalties under present law. Addition of a new section 214-C to the Retirement and Social Security Law would remove this impediment to obtaining experienced and highly qualified instructors. (S.2747 Larkin / A.4876 Gunther)

Upholstered Furniture Safety: Enact legislation to eliminate/reduce use of carcinogenic, toxic chemicals in "flame retardant" furniture. (S.5585 O’Mara / S.3844 Ritchie)

Increase Permanent Disability Benefits in VFBL/VAWBL: The amount payable in permanent total disability benefits has not been increased since 1998. Enact legislation to create an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). (S.1000-A Funke / A.5133 Morelle)