Fire officials from across Long Island met over the weekend to formulate a legislative agenda to support the state’s volunteer emergency workers. They’ll lobby Albany on a slate of recommendations to keep the volunteer rate up and assist those who serve.
“The governor and the legislative leaders would be well advised to act on these proposals since without the volunteers, fire services would become a huge added burden on the taxpayers,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. A four-decade volunteer himself, the Assemblyman was part of the Annual Legislative Outreach Program of the New York State Fire Service Alliance.
Among their concerns are increased volunteer training, suicide prevention programs for first responders, and incentives such as tax credits for firefighters and ambulance workers. They note that the state income tax credit for emergency services men and women has been stagnant at $200 since 2006, a limit that should be increased to reflect their value.
The alliance is also seeking legislation to help prevent fire deaths by providing a sales tax exemption on home life safety products and extending the ability of local departments to recover costs for ambulance services. They’re calling for code updates to address residential sprinklers and ensure the responsible sale and use of lithium-ion batteries. Another topic is training for emergencies at green energy battery storage facilities.
“We have to support our volunteers to keep them active in their prospective districts,” said Bill Theis, chairman of the Nassau-Suffolk Fire District's Legislative Committee, who pointed out that without them, paid fire departments in New York would cost over $5 billion in salaries alone. “They're doing this because they want to serve their communities. The state should support them in every possible way.”
According to Theis, Fire Service Alliance members will discuss their priorities with Gov. Kathy Hochul at a meeting in March. The group is made up of a number of local and statewide organizations, including the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, Firemen's Association of the State of New York, New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York, and the New York State Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association.