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

                                   339

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  SKARTADOS  --  read once and referred to the
  Committee on Labor

AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to volunteer firefighters and
  emergency medical services personnel job protection

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

  Section  1.  The labor law is amended by adding a new section 207-b to
read as follows:
  S 207-B. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND AMBULANCE WORKER JOB PROTECTION. 1.
IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY EMPLOYER OR  HIS  OR  HER  DULY  AUTHORIZED
AGENT  TO  DISCHARGE  OR  IN  ANY  OTHER  MANNER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AN
EMPLOYEE AS TO HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE HE OR SHE HAS RESPONDED  TO
AN  EMERGENCY  WHEN ACTING AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER OR VOLUNTEER AMBU-
LANCE WORKER.
  2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (A) VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING  AS  DEFINED  IN
SUBDIVISION  ONE OF SECTION THREE OF THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' BENEFIT
LAW; AND
  (B) VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS  DEFINED
IN  SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THREE OF THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKERS'
BENEFIT LAW.
  3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS  SECTION,  "RESPONDING  TO  AN  EMERGENCY"
SHALL MEAN:
  (A)  WHEN A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER PARTICIPATES IN NECESSARY TRAVEL TO,
WORKING AT, AND NECESSARY TRAVEL RETURNING FROM A FIRE, ALARM  OF  FIRE,
HAZARDOUS  MATERIAL INCIDENT OR OTHER EMERGENCY TO WHICH HIS OR HER FIRE
DEPARTMENT, FIRE COMPANY, ANY UNIT  THEREOF,  EITHER  HAS  RESPONDED  OR
WOULD  BE  REQUIRED OR AUTHORIZED TO RESPOND, INCLUDING NECESSARY TRAVEL
DURING SUCH WORK OR INCIDENTAL THERETO; OR

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00599-01-5
              

A. 339                              2

  (B) WHEN A VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER PARTICIPATES IN NECESSARY TRAVEL
TO, WORKING AT, AND NECESSARY TRAVEL RETURNING FROM AN  ACCIDENT,  ALARM
OF  ACCIDENT,  OR  OTHER  DUTY TO WHICH HIS OR HER AMBULANCE DEPARTMENT,
AMBULANCE COMPANY, OR ANY UNIT THEREOF, EITHER HAS RESPONDED OR WOULD BE
REQUIRED  OR  AUTHORIZED  TO  RESPOND, INCLUDING NECESSARY TRAVEL DURING
SUCH WORK OR INCIDENTAL THERETO.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.