Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit.
Summary
S00190 would amend New York’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law and Volunteer Ambulance Workers’ Benefit Law to require that death benefits be paid within 90 days after an eligible person files an application with the Workers’ Compensation Board, unless the employer or insurance carrier files a notice of controversy under the Workers’ Compensation Law. If the claim cannot be processed within that 90-day window because of a discrepancy, the Board would have to send the claimant written notice within the same period explaining the problem and why payment is delayed.
The bill also directs the Workers’ Compensation Board to conduct outreach and provide coordinated information to eligible beneficiaries about assistance available for navigating the death-benefit application process. The measure takes effect immediately and is aimed at speeding up benefit delivery and improving communication for families of deceased volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.
Impact
The bill would create new section 7-b in both the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law and the Volunteer Ambulance Workers’ Benefit Law, imposing a statutory 90-day processing and payment timeline for death benefits. It would also add an affirmative outreach obligation on the Workers’ Compensation Board, affecting how claims are handled and how claimants are informed about application assistance. The practical impact is to strengthen procedural protections for surviving beneficiaries and to pressure the Board, employers, and insurers to resolve claims more quickly or formally dispute them.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong, bipartisan support and no recorded opposition in committee or on the Senate floor. The bill passed the Senate Local Government Committee and the full Senate unanimously in the recorded votes, indicating broad agreement with the goal of expediting death-benefit payments for volunteer emergency responders’ families. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no evidence of significant public disagreement in the available materials.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the record provided, but the main policy issue is the balance between faster payment and the need to verify claims accurately. The bill preserves the ability of employers or insurance carriers to file a notice of controversy, and it allows delays when claim discrepancies prevent timely processing, suggesting that any concerns would likely center on administrative feasibility, documentation requirements, and the Board’s capacity to meet the new deadline. The outreach mandate may also raise implementation questions about staffing and coordination, though no opposition is reflected in the votes.
Same As
Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit.
Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit.
Extends tuition free course benefits to volunteer firefighters or voluntary ambulance workers; authorizes the board of trustees of the state university to regulate the conferral of such benefits.