[Bruce]

would it hurt to put a NC on someones bunker jacket which would allow them to assist a department? Forget joining more than one department but there have been times when we all were probably out and about and there was a fire in a local area, if I'm in Manhasset and I see the rigs going down to a job i wouldnt mind trying to help out without having to worry about getting in trouble in my own department.

[oos]

I don't think this law overrides department rules to not allow non

[kye994]

I don't think this law is intended to go buff out in a busy department.

I think the spirit of the law is when you live in town "A" and are a member there but you work in town "B" and your employer would allow you to go to calls, then you can join that department in town "B" to help protect that community.

[underthedome]

Heard this was vetoed by the governor.

[EJS1810]

VETO MESSAGE - No. 43

TO THE SENATE:

I am returning herewith, without my approval, the following bill:

Senate Bill Number 6690, entitled:

"AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, the town law and the
village law, in relation to permitting volunteer firefighters to
be eligible to serve in more than one volunteer fire department at
a time"

NOT APPROVED

This bill would allow volunteer firefighters to become members of
multiple fire companies. Existing provisions in the General Municipal
Law allow volunteers to provide services to fire companies of which they
are not members, and to receive the rights, privileges and protections
belonging to members of those departments. But, a volunteer may not
currently become a member of multiple departments.

The Association of Fire Districts (AFD) and the New York Conference of
Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) have informed me that the exist-
ing provisions allowing for voluntary service have worked to enhance
volunteer participation at under-served fire companies, which is a laud-
able and worthwhile goal. Although allowing multiple membership may
further enhance the recruitment of volunteers, both AFD and NYCOM have
expressed concerns about the multiple membership provisions of the bill.
These include questions about: (1) which governmental entity would be
responsible for the dual member's Volunteer Fireman's Benefit Law insur-
ance; (2) which policy would cover a particular injury - especially if
both of the volunteer's departments responded to the incident in which
the volunteer was injured; and (3) whether a dual-member volunteer could
participate in multiple Service Award Programs, which are locally admin-
istered pension plans for volunteer firefighters under Article 11-A of
the General Municipal Law, and, if so, how this type of multiple service
would be credited and calculated. Based on these concerns, I am
compelled to disapprove this bill.

The bill is disapproved. (signed) DAVID A. PATERSON
__________

[You Dont Know About That?]

that sucks.

[1st Due Truck]

it just does not make sense in today's world where vol. are becoming few and far between to do this. What about guys that work in another district that are allowed to leave work to ride...or drive a bus. In the end it will be the citizens of New York that are hurt by this not us the vollies. I hope people realize this when a rig is delayed because your waiting on man power of 14A has to come with a 15 min ETA 10 mins after the initial call, and maybe vote differently next time. Oh well...

[underthedome]

Originally Posted by EJS1810

VETO MESSAGE - No. 43

The Association of Fire Districts (AFD) and the New York Conference of
Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) have informed me that the exist-
ing provisions allowing for voluntary service have worked to enhance
volunteer participation at under-served fire companies, which is a laud-
able and worthwhile goal. Although allowing multiple membership may
further enhance the recruitment of volunteers, both AFD and NYCOM have
expressed concerns about the multiple membership provisions of the bill.
These include questions about: (1) which governmental entity would be
responsible for the dual member's Volunteer Fireman's Benefit Law insur-
ance; (2) which policy would cover a particular injury - especially if
both of the volunteer's departments responded to the incident in which
the volunteer was injured; and (3) whether a dual-member volunteer could
participate in multiple Service Award Programs, which are locally admin-
istered pension plans for volunteer firefighters under Article 11-A of
the General Municipal Law, and, if so, how this type of multiple service
would be credited and calculated. Based on these concerns, I am
compelled to disapprove this bill.


__________

The Association of Fire Districts (Commissioners) seem to have been the major ones lobbying against this law.