New York Senate Bill S10187

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/5/26
• Refer: 5/5/26

Caption

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.

Summary

This bill amends provisions of the Nassau County Civil Divisions Act relating to the Volunteer and Exempt Firefighter’s Benevolent Association of Bethpage, Nassau County, New York, Inc. It updates the association’s name and related statutory language by replacing the term “firemen” with “firefighters” and making corresponding gender-neutral wording changes, including references to the secretary of the corporation and membership eligibility provisions. The bill also revises the section governing the collection and use of foreign fire insurance premium taxes. It updates the Insurance Law cross-references to the current section numbering and changes the use restriction so that the taxes received by the association must be used by the corporation in furtherance of its statutory purposes, rather than being limited to care and relief for disabled or indigent volunteer and exempt firemen and their families. The bill takes effect immediately.

Impact

The bill would amend local law governing a specific benevolent association in Bethpage, Nassau County, and would update outdated terminology and statutory references in the Nassau County Civil Divisions Act. It affects the association’s membership language, eligibility provisions, and the disposition of foreign fire insurance premium tax revenues collected for fire department use and benefit under the Insurance Law. The practical effect is to modernize the statute’s language and clarify that tax proceeds are to be used for the association’s authorized purposes.

Sentiment

The available bill text and context suggest a neutral to favorable sentiment, with the measure presented as a technical and modernizing update rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcript or recorded votes are provided, and there is no indication of organized opposition in the materials supplied. The bill appears to be framed as a housekeeping amendment aligning statutory language with current terminology and cross-references.

Contention

The main substantive point that could draw attention is the change in how foreign fire insurance premium tax revenues may be used. The prior language specifically limited those funds to the care and relief of disabled or indigent volunteer and exempt firemen and their families, while the bill broadens the language to use by the corporation in furtherance of its purposes under the article. Another possible point of interest is the terminology change from “firemen” to “firefighters,” which is largely stylistic but reflects a broader shift toward gender-neutral statutory language. No direct opposition or competing viewpoints are documented in the provided materials.