NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1329
SPONSOR: Sillitti TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to exempting
certain first responders from vehicle registration fees
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would provide an exemption from the vehicle registra-
tion fee for certified first responders who are disabled as a result of
a certified World Trade Center medical condition.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subdivision 6 of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic
law by extending the exemption of personal vehicle registration fees to
certified first responders who have a World Trade Center qualifying
medical condition. This exemption is already provided to certain service
disabled veterans.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
Each day, the number of deaths for first responders who participated in
World Trade Center rescue, recovery and cleanup operations continues to
grow. Twenty years after the attacks on the World Trade Center, over ten
thousand first responders and others in the disaster area have been
diagnosed with cancer and other debilitating illnesses, and more than
3,500 first responders have died related to 9/11 related illness.
Even for first responders who are still in good health, the fear of
future illness is on their minds. These heroes still have to focus on
providing financially for their families and preparing for the potential
risk of developing illness as a result of their call to serve on that
fateful day. Extending this exemption already provided to certain veter-
ans, to certified first responders with World Trade Center qualifying
conditions from vehicle registration fees will aid their families by
providing financial peace of mind during already trying times.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
