Provides accidental disability retirement benefits equal to three-quarters of the final average salary for chief fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, division supervising fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals and fire marshal trainees in Nassau county.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7520
SPONSOR: Abbate (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the retirement and social security
law, in relation to providing accidental disability retirement benefits
for chief fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, division supervising
fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals and fire marshal
trainees in Nassau county
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation provides for a 3/4 accidental disability retirement for
various fire marshal titles within Nassau county who are injured in the
line of duty.
JUSTIFICATION:
Nassau County Fire Marshals provide services countywide, including
inspectional duties, Hazmat operations, the investigation of suspicious
fires, and the apprehension of arsonists and other criminals. They are
armed peace officers in New York State. Though rare, it does happen
that Nassau County Fire Marshals are rendered seriously and permanently
disabled due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. While such
instances occur infrequently, they are nonetheless devastating to the
Marshal involved, their spouses, and their children.
Fire Marshals respond to and perform work at the scene of serious fires
and Hazmat situations. Responses to Hazmat incidents place the Fire
Marshals with materials that, by their nature, are extremely dangerous.
Incidents involving flammables, corrosives, explosives, and deadly fumes
can cause extremely serious injury and disability to those responding to
and abating these conditions. Further, the Fire Marshals are trained to
handle weapons of mass destruction, as well as to deal with CBRNE
response and mitigation. These threats involve chemical and biological
agents, radiological and nuclear issues, which are all inherently
dangerous.
Though the Marshals are well trained, the operations they perform are by
their nature very dangerous and can result in serious injury. Addi-
tionally, in their investigation and apprehension role, Fire Marshals
are exposed to similar conditions as any other law enforcement officer
with arrest powers in our state. It should be noted that Fire Marshals
in the adjacent City of New York have a 75% disability benefit.
This bill will provide appropriate protection for Nassau County Fire
Marshals and their families in the event of a serious on-the-job disa-
blement. It also will rectify the imbalance in protection that currently
exists between the Fire Marshals and other, similar law enforcement
officers.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
