Provides for local input for the dissolution of a fire district by requiring the governing body of the fire district enact a resolution calling for a referendum on the proposed dissolution by the electors in the fire district.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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9347
IN SENATE
March 4, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to providing
public input on local fire protection in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new
2 section 777-a to read as follows:
3 § 777-a. Referendum resolution for dissolution of fire districts. 1.
4 If a dissolution plan calls for the dissolution of a fire district, then
5 contemporaneous with the final approval of the dissolution plan pursuant
6 to subdivision three of section seven hundred seventy-six of this title,
7 the governing body of the fire district shall enact a resolution calling
8 for a referendum on the proposed dissolution by the electors in the fire
9 district.
10 2. The resolution calling for the referendum on the proposed dissol-
11 ution shall:
12 (a) provide: (i) the name of the fire district to be dissolved; and
13 (ii) the date for the referendum, in accordance with subdivision one of
14 section seven hundred eighty of this title;
15 (b) state the substance of the question to be submitted to the elec-
16 tors; and
17 (c) set forth such other matters as may be necessary to call, provide
18 for and give notice of the referendum and to provide for the conduct
19 thereof and the canvass of the returns thereupon.
20 3. The resolution calling for the referendum on the proposed dissol-
21 ution shall have attached to it the final approved version of the
22 dissolution plan.
23 4. A fire district dissolved pursuant to a dissolution plan shall
24 continue to be governed as before dissolution until the effective date
25 of the dissolution specified in the dissolution plan; provided, however,
26 that no dissolution plan for a fire district shall take effect unless
27 approved by a majority of electors of the fire district at a referendum
28 called through a resolution.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15084-01-6
S. 9347 2
1 5. A referendum on a proposed dissolution of a fire district shall be
2 placed before the electors in the fire district to be dissolved at a
3 special election to be held not less than sixty or more than ninety days
4 after the enactment of a resolution calling for the referendum,
5 provided, however, that in cases where a town general election falls
6 within such period, the referendum question may be considered during a
7 town general election.
8 6. Notice of the referendum shall be given to the electors of the fire
9 district to be dissolved by publication in a newspaper having a general
10 circulation within the boundaries of the entity at least once a week for
11 four consecutive weeks immediately prior to the referendum. The notice
12 shall include, but not be limited to:
13 (a) a summary of the contents of the resolution and dissolution plan
14 or petition for dissolution, as the case may be;
15 (b) a statement as to where may be examined copies of the resolution
16 and dissolution plan or petition for dissolution, as the case may be;
17 (c) the name of the fire district to be dissolved and a statement
18 fully describing its territory;
19 (d) the time and place or places at which the referendum will be held;
20 and
21 (e) such other matters as may be necessary to call, provide for and
22 give notice of the referendum and to provide for the conduct thereof and
23 the canvass of the returns thereupon.
24 7. The referendum question placed before the electors of the fire
25 district to be dissolved shall be in a form reading substantially as
26 follows:
27 "Shall (insert type and name of fire district) be dissolved?
28 YES ____
29 NO ____"
30 8. In any referendum held pursuant to this title, the fire district to
31 be dissolved shall bear the costs associated with the conduct of such
32 referendum.
33 9. In any referendum held pursuant to this title, and except as other-
34 wise specified herein, the referendum shall be conducted in the same
35 manner as other municipal elections or referendums for the local govern-
36 ment entity affected by the proposed dissolution.
37 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
