NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7452B
SPONSOR: DiPietro TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to the Boston NY Fallen Firefighters
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To memorialize the ultimate sacrifice of four members of the Boston New
York Fire Company by naming the bridge on Rice Road in the Town of
Boston, Erie County, going over State Route 219 as the "Boston NY Fallen
Firefighters Memorial Bridge"
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill designates a portion of the state highway system
as the "Boston NY Fallen Firefighters Memorial Bridge"
Section 2. Requires the NYS DOT Commissioner to provide for the instal-
lation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system
as designated pursuant to section one of this act.
Section 3. establishes the effective date
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
JUSTIFICATION:
On July 15, 1978, four of the Town of Boston Fire Company's bravest were
attempting to rescue persons trapped in a well where they inhaled fatal
amounts of carbon monoxide. Volunteer Firefighters David Hadley, Eugene
Schmitt, Dana Stevens and Donald Pfarner ultimately lost their lives as
a result. This legislation recognizes their heroism and service to the
residents.of the Town of Boston and the Boston Fire Company by naming
the Rice Road bridge, over State Route 219, as the "Boston Fire NY Fall-
en Firefighters Memorial Bridge"
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7452--B
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 28, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again
reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to the Boston NY Fallen Firefighters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 342-aaa
2 to read as follows:
3 § 342-aaa. Portion of the state highway system to be dedicated to
4 Boston NY Fallen Firefighters. The bridge on Rice Hill Road, in the
5 town of Boston, county of Erie, crossing over state route two hundred
6 nineteen, shall be dedicated to Boston NY Fallen Firefighters.
7 § 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the instal-
8 lation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system
9 as dedicated pursuant to section one of this act, provided that such
10 signing shall state "Bridge Dedicated to Boston NY Fallen Firefighters".
11 However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of
12 commerce, the dedication called for pursuant to section one of this act
13 shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such bridge
14 shall not be changed as a result of this act.
15 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02510-09-5
