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S 9977

Relates to the Islip Terrace Volunteer Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alexis Weik

The bill authorizes the Islip Terrace Exempt Firefighter’s Benevolent Association to collect a share of foreign fire insurance premium taxes and use the funds for its benevolent pu

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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Bill Summary · S 9977

Summary: Bill S. 9977 (2025-2026) – Islip Terrace Volunteer Exempt Firefighter’s Benevolent Association

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: New York
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Introduced by: Sen. Weik (co-sponsor: Alexis Weik)
  • Committee: Local Government
  • Title: Relates to the Islip Terrace Volunteer Exempt Firefighter's Benevolent Association
  • Effective date: Immediate (takes effect upon enactment)

Primary purpose

This bill makes technical amendments to the existing framework governing the Islip Terrace Volunteer Exempt Firefighters’ Benevolent Association, originally established by chapter 10 of the laws of 1958. The changes address membership eligibility, governance, and the use and oversight of certain fire department tax revenue to support the association’s purposes.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Reaffirmation and modification of incorporation and membership rules (Sections 1 and 2)

    • Creates a membership corporation named “Islip Terrace Volunteer Exempt Firefighter’s Benevolent Association.”
    • Eligibility for membership:
      • Individuals who are or have been volunteer members of the Islip Terrace fire district fire department, or of any fire corporation within the district.
      • Individuals residing in the fire district or in territory served by contract with the fire district, who are exempt volunteer firefighters as defined by the General Municipal Law (GML, §200) are eligible.
      • Excludes individuals expelled or removed for cause from any fire company or department.
    • Membership ceasing rules:
      • If a member who is not an exempt firefighter moves out of the district or into territory not provided with fire protection, membership in the association ceases.

  2. Financial/tax collection and use of funds (Section 7)

    • The association is authorized to collect and receive taxes imposed under Insurance Law § 9104 (the bill uses the later Act references for modern numbering) on foreign fire insurance premiums for properties within:
      • The territory protected by the Islip Terrace fire department (Islip, Suffolk County, NY) or any other territory where the department is obligated to render fire protection.
    • Designated collector:
      • An officer of the association, as defined by its by-laws, will collect these taxes and will have powers and be subject to provisions governing treasurers of fire departments under the Insurance Law.
    • Tax sharing:
      • The association is entitled to receive a share of the tax revenue under Insurance Law § 9105, proportionate to the business written in the territory attributable to the association’s tax collection rights.
    • Use of funds:
      • Funds collected under these provisions must be used in furtherance of the association’s purposes as set forth in Section 3 of the act (i.e., the benevolent purposes of the association), and not for other purposes such as general relief outside those purposes.

Who would be affected

  • Islip Terrace Fire District constituents and property owners within the specified fire protection territory, including:
    • Property owners insured under fire policies covering properties within the district or obligated service areas.
  • Islip Terrace Volunteer Exempt Firefighters and prospective members:
    • Eligibility follows the clarified criteria; non-exempt firefighters who move away or lose protection eligibility may lose membership rights.
  • Islip Terrace Fire Department and its governance structures:
    • The association’s officer designated to collect taxes gains formal authority and responsibilities consistent with municipal fire department treasurers under the Insurance Law.
  • Beneficiaries of the association’s benevolent purposes:
    • The act specifies funding use for the association’s purposes, including support for disabled or indigent firefighters and related benevolent activities, via tax-derived revenue.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Committee on Local Government on April 20, 2026.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • The bill provides for technical amendments and clarifications rather than a broad structural overhaul of the Islip Terrace Benevolent Association.

Notable considerations

  • The bill modernizes references to Insurance Law sections to align with current statutory numbering (e.g., sections governing foreign fire insurance premium taxes and distributions).
  • It tightens eligibility and residency provisions to ensure membership aligns with the district’s firefighting protection territory.
  • It links tax-derived funds directly to the association’s stated benevolent purposes, reinforcing dedicated use for member and family welfare within the protection territory.

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

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