Establishes a battery storage fire training program under the purview of the state fire administrator.
Summary
This bill amends the General Municipal Law and the Executive Law to require an approved battery storage fire training program as part of firefighter training in New York. It would make completion of that training a condition of original permanent appointment as a firefighter, and also require temporary, probationary, or other non-permanent firefighters to complete the training within the time set by regulation in order to keep their positions. The bill also updates the state fire administrator’s authority to approve, certify, and oversee these battery storage training programs and their instructors.
The measure further expands the state fire administrator’s rulemaking and oversight powers to include battery storage fire training programs alongside existing fire training programs. It authorizes the administrator to set minimum courses of study, attendance requirements, instructor qualifications, and to conduct studies and surveys related to the effectiveness of these programs. The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law.
Impact
The bill would change state law by inserting battery storage fire training into the firefighter certification and training framework administered under the Executive Law and General Municipal Law. It would affect hiring and continued employment standards for firefighters in counties, cities, towns, villages, and fire districts, while also giving the state fire administrator explicit authority to approve, certify, and regulate battery storage-specific training programs and instructors.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a public safety and firefighter preparedness bill, with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. The overall tone is supportive and administrative, focusing on updating training standards to address battery storage fire risks rather than on broader policy controversy.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided transcripts or voting history, since none were supplied. Potential areas of concern, if raised in future debate, could include the cost and logistics of adding a new mandatory training requirement, the availability of approved programs and instructors, and whether local fire departments would need additional resources to comply with the new standards.
Requires the office of fire prevention and control to pay training stipends in specific amounts to volunteer firefighters for completion of certain firefighter trainings; provides that if a volunteer fire company pays training stipends to volunteer firefighters in an amount below what is otherwise required to be paid by OFPC, OFPC shall pay the remaining amount.
Requires the state fire administrator to make available a specialized electric vehicle emergency response training program to provide training to individuals responsible for providing emergency response and recovery following incidents involving electric vehicles; defines emergency medical services agency.
Relates to the Volunteer and Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association of Bethpage, Nassau county, New York, Inc.; changes "firemen" to "firefighters"; directs that certain taxes received shall be used by such benevolent association in furtherance of its purposes.
Relates to the Volunteer and Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association of Bethpage, Nassau county, New York, Inc.; changes "firemen" to "firefighters"; directs that certain taxes received shall be used by such benevolent association in furtherance of its purposes.