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Bill

S 6204

Ensures paid employees of the New York state division of military and naval affairs which perform fire response or fire rescue duties are eligible for equal benefits as other paid firefighters

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Ryan and 1 co-sponsor

Extends firefighter benefits to DMNA personnel who perform fire response, creating parity with other NY state firefighters in retirement, health, disability, and protections.

REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
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Bill Summary · S 6204

S 6204 — Summary

Overview and Purpose

S 6204 seeks to ensure that paid employees of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA) who perform fire response or fire rescue duties are eligible for equal benefits as other paid firefighters in the state. In essence, the bill aims to close a benefits eligibility gap by aligning DMNA personnel performing firefighting duties with the benefits afforded to other state-paid firefighters.

Key Provisions

  • Extends eligibility for firefighter-related benefits to DMNA employees who perform fire response or fire rescue duties.
  • Creates parity between these DMNA personnel and other paid firefighters in New York State in terms of benefits (e.g., retirement/pension, health, disability, and related protections currently available to firefighters).
  • May require amendments or administrative adjustments to relevant civil service and benefits frameworks to implement the parity (exact mechanisms not detailed in the summary).

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Paid DMNA employees who perform fire response or fire rescue duties.
  • Broader: The DMNA division and its human resources/pension administrators, along with the state’s firefighter benefit programs and Civil Service systems.
  • Potential ripple effects on hiring, retention, and budget planning within DMNA and the state’s fire services.

Legislative Status and Timeline

  • Introduced: March 6, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions (Senate).
  • Legislative actions recorded: Two identical entries noting referral to Civil Service and Pensions on March 6, 2025.
  • Related companion bill: A 4001 (listed as a companion bill).

Sponsorship

  • Primary sponsor: James Skoufis.
  • Cosponsor: Christopher Ryan.
  • Related companion: A 4001 (listed as the companion bill).

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Parity: Addresses unequal treatment in benefits, potentially improving morale, retention, and recognition for DMNA personnel who perform firefighting duties.
  • Fiscal implications: Extending benefits could affect state firefighter programs’ costs and may require budget adjustments or changes to funding formulas.
  • Implementation: Likely requires updates to civil service rules or benefit eligibility criteria to reflect the new parity.

Next Steps

  • The bill will proceed through the Civil Service and Pensions committee; if advanced, it could move to floor consideration in the Senate and potentially to the Assembly as a companion measure (A 4001) for synchronized action. No enacted language or effective date is provided in the current summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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