STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
901
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON,
KATZ, McKEVITT, MILLER, ROBERTS, ROBINSON, SALADINO -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of
the disaster preparedness first responder recognition program and the
honoring of certain retired firefighters who were killed at the World
Trade Center on September 11, 2001
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative declarations. The legislature hereby finds and
2 determines that there should be established a disaster preparedness
3 first responder recognition program to honor those brave men and women
4 who have given their lives as part of a disaster preparedness or first
5 response situation, in an effort to help, save and care for their fellow
6 man.
7 The legislature hereby further finds and declares that James J.
8 Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes, were retired New York city
9 firefighters at the time of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World
10 Trade Center Complex in the state and city of New York. That such
11 retired firefighters, James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T.
12 Hayes, were at the scene of such September 11, 2001 attack, and with
13 great heroism, courage and dedication to their community and fellow man,
14 and without concern for themselves or their own personal safety or well
15 being, such retired firefighters James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and
16 Phillip T. Hayes bravely assisted the rescue and firefighting efforts at
17 the World Trade Center, and in so doing, gave their lives in the furth-
18 erance of such noble and benevolent efforts.
19 The legislature further hereby finds and declares, that the courageous
20 public service of James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes,
21 evidenced by their commitment to, and concern for, their state, their
22 city and their fellow citizens, over and above any risk or personal
23 peril they faced, as well as making the ultimate sacrifice as a result
24 of such service, demonstrates that these men and their surviving fami-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03817-01-3
A. 901 2
1 lies are deserving of the highest recognition, appreciation, honor and
2 gratitude that their state, their city, and their community can provide.
3 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 29-i to read
4 as follows:
5 § 29-i. Disaster preparedness first responder recognition program. 1.
6 There is hereby created a disaster preparedness first responder recogni-
7 tion program. The purpose of such program is to provide recognition and
8 honor to those brave men and women who have given their lives as part of
9 a disaster preparedness or first response situation, in an effort to
10 help, save and care for their fellow man. The program shall be managed
11 and maintained jointly by the office of homeland security and the state
12 emergency management office. Each year, in coordination with the staff
13 at the office of homeland security and the state emergency management
14 office, the program shall honor three individuals from New York state
15 who deserve recognition and honor for their efforts.
16 2. There shall be three initial honorees of the disaster preparedness
17 first responder recognition program. Such initial honorees shall be
18 James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes. Such honoring
19 shall be in recognition of such retired firefighters who lost their
20 lives at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As part of their
21 status as initial honorees by the disaster preparedness first responder
22 recognition program, notwithstanding any provision of any general,
23 special, or local law to the contrary, the state of New York, the city
24 of New York and the fire department of the city of New York, shall
25 bestow, award and provide James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip
26 T. Hayes, and their families, with all the benefits, honors, merits,
27 ceremonies, recognitions, awards and status provided to any other fire-
28 fighter who perished at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001,
29 including but not limited to:
30 a. Posthumously awarding James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip
31 T. Hayes the Medal of Valor and the Special World Trade Center Medal of
32 Valor and presenting the same to the families of such men at a ceremony
33 held in their honor;
34 b. Adding the names of James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T.
35 Hayes to all monuments, memorials and tributes honoring the brave fire-
36 fighters from the city of New York who gave their lives in the World
37 Trade Center on September 11, 2001, including but not exclusive of
38 adding their names to the Wall of Honor at the Fire Department of the
39 city of New York's headquarters;
40 c. Posthumously retiring the badges of James J. Corrigan, William
41 Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes;
42 d. Establishing a picture memorial to James J. Corrigan, William Wren,
43 and Phillip T. Hayes in the firehouse in which each such firefighter
44 last served, commemorating such firefighters' service and acknowledging
45 their sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001;
46 e. Establishing a picture memorial to James J. Corrigan, William Wren,
47 and Phillip T. Hayes in the office of homeland security and the state
48 emergency management office, commemorating such firefighters' service
49 and acknowledging their sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September
50 11, 2001.
51 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the recog-
52 nition activities required by section two of this act shall be completed
53 on or before the ninetieth day from the date upon which this act shall
54 have become a law.
