S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6277

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 27, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. COOK, ORTIZ, PHEFFER, ZEBROWSKI -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M.  of  A.    AUBRY,  COLTON,  CUSICK,  CYMBROWITZ,  DIAZ,
  FARRELL, GOTTFRIED, GREENE, HEASTIE, NOLAN, PERRY, SCARBOROUGH -- read
  once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments

AN  ACT  to  amend the general municipal law, in relation to requiring a
  written notice, prior to changing the level of fire services  provided
  in cities having a population of one million or more

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.   The legislature hereby finds  and  determines  that  fire
protection  is  one of the most significant and vital municipal services
provided to the citizens of the state.  Any proposed action by municipal
officers which threatens to alter the manner or  level  of  delivery  of
fire  services  ought to be on notice to the community since it is quite
often of significant concern to the affected community.
  In order to enable the community to have sufficient public  discussion
through the use of existing community boards and their established abil-
ity  to  effectively  notify the members of the community and to conduct
public hearings on the proposal, the within provisions are enacted.
  S 2. The general municipal law is amended  by  adding  a  new  section
209-ff to read as follows:
  S  209-FF. REDUCTION OF FIRE SERVICES IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES; PRIOR
NOTICE REQUIRED.   NOTWITHSTANDING ANY  INCONSISTENT  PROVISION  OF  ANY
GENERAL,  SPECIAL  OR  LOCAL LAW, OR RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY,
THE FIRE COMMISSIONER OF ANY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CITIES  HAVING  A  POPU-
LATION  OF ONE MILLION OR MORE SHALL NOT SUBSTANTIALLY ALTER THE BOUNDA-
RIES OF FIRE COMPANIES, ONCE FIXED, CLOSE A BOROUGH FIRE  COMMUNICATIONS
OFFICE, REMOVE OR DISMANTLE A FIRE ALARM BOX, OR CLOSE, REMOVE, OR RELO-
CATE  A  FIRE  COMPANY  UNLESS  AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE TAKING
EFFECT OF SUCH ACTION WRITTEN NOTICE THEREOF  HAS  BEEN  GIVEN  TO  EACH
LOCAL  COMMUNITY  BOARD  OR BOARDS HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THAT PART OF
THE CITY DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY SUCH PROPOSED ACTION OR SERVICE REDUCTION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01266-01-9