New York Assembly Bill A05039

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/11/25
• Refer: 2/11/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires the state to provide reimbursement of certain costs and benefits incurred as a result of an injury occurring during a mutual aid call.

Summary

This bill would require New York State to reimburse municipalities and fire departments for certain costs arising from injuries sustained during mutual aid fire calls. For paid firefighters and paid fire truck drivers, the state would reimburse the employing municipality for medical treatment costs, lost time, reduced earnings, and other compensable expenses under the Workers’ Compensation Law when the injury is causally related to the mutual aid call. The bill also requires state reimbursement for municipal overtime costs incurred because of a mutual aid call, even if no injury occurs, so long as the reimbursement does not exceed the actual cost incurred. For volunteer firefighters, the bill creates a similar reimbursement mechanism under the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law. If a volunteer firefighter is injured while responding to a mutual aid call and incurs covered costs such as medical treatment, lost time, or loss of earnings, the state would reimburse the fire department for those costs up to the actual amount incurred. Claims would be submitted on forms and under regulations established by the relevant commissioners, and the law would apply prospectively to mutual aid calls occurring on or after the effective date.

Impact

The bill would amend both the Workers’ Compensation Law and the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law to shift certain financial burdens from municipalities and fire departments to the state when injuries or overtime costs arise from mutual aid responses. It would create a new state reimbursement obligation for paid fire personnel and volunteer firefighters, while also covering overtime expenses tied to mutual aid calls. The measure would affect municipalities, fire departments, and the state agencies responsible for administering reimbursement rules and claims processing.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a support-and-relief bill for local fire service providers rather than a controversial policy change. Its stated purpose is to ensure that municipalities and fire departments are not left bearing the full cost of injuries and overtime associated with mutual aid operations. No opposing arguments or recorded vote history are available in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment can only be characterized as generally favorable to firefighters and local governments.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is fiscal responsibility: the bill requires the state to reimburse actual costs, which could create new state expenditures and administrative obligations. Another possible issue is the scope of reimbursement, including whether overtime costs should be covered even when no injury occurs, and how claims will be verified and regulated. The bill text does not include committee testimony or votes, so no specific supporters or opponents are identified in the provided record.