S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5785
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 28, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARCHIONE -- (at request of the State Comptroller) --
read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the town law and the village law, in relation to fire
protection contracts with incorporated fire companies
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 22 of section 176 of the town law, as amended
by chapter 167 of the laws of 1960, the first undesignated paragraph as
amended by chapter 705 of the laws of 1967 and the closing paragraph as
amended by chapter 520 of the laws of 1964, is amended to read as
follows:
22. (A) May contract for the furnishing of fire protection within the
fire district with any city, village, fire district, or incorporated
fire company having its headquarters outside such fire district and
maintaining adequate and suitable apparatus and appliances for the
furnishing of fire protection in such district; provided there is no
fire company maintaining its headquarters in said district or provided
the fire department of said district is, in the judgment of such fire
commissioners, unable to render adequate and prompt fire protection to
such district or any area thereof. The contract also may provide for the
furnishing of [(1)] (I) emergency service in case of accidents, calami-
ties or other emergencies in connection with which the services of fire-
men would be required and [(2)] (II) general ambulance service subject,
however, to the provisions of section two hundred nine-b of the general
municipal law. In the event that the fire department or fire company
furnishing fire protection within the district pursuant to contract does
not maintain and operate an ambulance and provision has not otherwise
been made for ambulance service for the area of the district pursuant to
section one hundred twenty two-b of the general municipal law then a
separate contract may be made for the furnishing within the district of
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10779-02-7
S. 5785 2
emergency ambulance service or general ambulance service, or both, with
any city, village or fire district the fire department of which, or with
an incorporated fire company having its headquarters outside the
district which, maintains and operates an ambulance subject, however, in
the case of general ambulance service, to the provisions of section two
hundred nine-b of the general municipal law.
(B)(I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH,
PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS FOR SUCH CONTRACT WITH AN
INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY, THE INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY SHALL FILE WITH
THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS A STATEMENT ITEMIZING THE ESTIMATED
COSTS OF THE INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROVISION OF
SERVICES UNDER THE PROSPECTIVE CONTRACT. THE ESTIMATED COSTS ATTRIBUT-
ABLE TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES UNDER THE PROSPECTIVE CONTRACT ITEM-
IZED IN THE STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THOSE, IF ANY, FOR:
SUPPLIES; MATERIALS; OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT AND
APPARATUS; INSURANCE; TRAINING; PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, GEAR AND OTHER
PERSONNEL COSTS; BUILDING RENTAL, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION; AND A SPEC-
IFIED PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF CAPITAL COSTS. IF THE FIRE COMPANY IS
REQUIRED TO PREPARE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, COPIES SHALL BE
INCLUDED WITH THE STATEMENT:
(1) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT OF DIRECTORS PURSUANT
TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED NINETEEN OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW;
(2) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT VERIFIED CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION (F) OF SECTION FOURTEEN HUNDRED TWO OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATION LAW;
(3) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FORM 990;
AND
(4) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION
THIRTY-A OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
(II) THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT
APPLY TO THE RENEWAL OF A CONTRACT WHEN THE CONTRACT IS DEEMED RENEWED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (E) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. UPON GOOD CAUSE
SHOWN, THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MAY, BY RESOLUTION, WAIVE IN
WHOLE OR IN PART THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE FIRE COMPANY FILE THE STATE-
MENT, AND COPIES OF DOCUMENTS, REQUIRED BY SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH.
(C) The contract shall not be entered into until a public hearing has
been held by the board of fire commissioners. Notice of the hearing
shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper having gener-
al circulation in the district. The notice shall specify the time when
and place where the hearing will be held, and describe in general terms
the proposed contract. The first publication thereof shall be at least
ten days prior to the day specified for the hearing.
(D) Except as hereinafter provided, the term of the contract shall be
for a definite period of time, but in no event shall the term exceed
five years. The contract year or years in all such contracts entered
into after the year nineteen hundred sixty shall terminate on December
thirty-first.
(E) Instead of being for a definite term as hereinabove provided, the
contract may be for an original term of one calendar year or less and
provide that it shall be deemed renewed on the same basis each year
thereafter for a further term of one full calendar year without any
further public hearing unless one of the contracting parties shall noti-
fy the other in writing on or before the first day of August that it
elects to terminate the contract on December thirty-first in that year.
The term of any such contract, including renewals, shall not exceed five
S. 5785 3
years, but the contract may provide that there shall be less than four
such renewals. If the city, village or fire district fire department or
fire company which is to furnish the service under such a contract is
not a fully paid department or company, the city, village or fire
district governing board upon the request of the department or company,
shall terminate the contract as provided in this paragraph. Any contract
entered into pursuant to this paragraph may provide that in the month of
July of each year in which such a renewal could occur the fire district
secretary shall notify the secretary of the fire department or fire
company which is to furnish the service under the contract that the
contract shall be deemed renewed on the same basis for a further full
term of one calendar year unless one of the contracting parties shall
notify the other in writing on or before the first day of August that it
elects to terminate the contract on December thirty-first in such year.
(F) The contract shall specify a definite sum to be paid each year for
all of the services to be rendered thereunder and may provide that such
amount shall be paid in one sum or in installments.
(G) By mutual consent of the contracting parties, and after a public
hearing held pursuant to notice in the manner aforesaid, any such
contract heretofore or hereafter executed may be [(1)] (I) amended,
[(2)] (II) terminated, or [(3)] (III) terminated and a new contract may
be entered into in lieu thereof, if the board of fire commissioners,
after such hearing, shall determine by resolution, that it is in the
public interest so to do. Such notice shall state in general terms the
reason why any existing contract is to be amended or terminated, and if
a new contract is to be entered into the notice shall also describe the
new contract in general terms.
(H) The term "fire protection", as used in this subdivision, includes
inspections of buildings and properties in the fire district for the
purposes specified in and as authorized by section eight hundred seven-a
of the education law, subdivision four of section three hundred three of
the multiple residence law, and section one hundred eighty-nine of the
town law.
(I) The provisions of this subdivision shall not be deemed to have
amended subdivision two of section two hundred nine-b or section two
hundred nine-d of the general municipal law, or any other general,
special or local law requiring the consent of a fire department, fire
company or an emergency rescue and first aid squad to the entering into
of a contract for services to be performed by such department, company
or squad.
§ 2. Section 184 of the town law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
sion 1-a to read as follows:
1-A. (A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION,
PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS FOR SUCH CONTRACT WITH AN
INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY, THE INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY SHALL FILE WITH
THE TOWN BOARD A STATEMENT ITEMIZING THE ESTIMATED COSTS OF THE INCORPO-
RATED FIRE COMPANY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES UNDER THE
PROSPECTIVE CONTRACT. THE ESTIMATED COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROVISION
OF SERVICES UNDER THE PROSPECTIVE CONTRACT ITEMIZED IN THE STATEMENT
SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THOSE, IF ANY, FOR: SUPPLIES; MATERIALS;
OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS; INSURANCE;
TRAINING; PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, GEAR AND OTHER PERSONNEL COSTS; BUILDING
RENTAL, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION; AND A SPECIFIED PROPORTIONATE SHARE
OF CAPITAL COSTS. IF THE FIRE COMPANY IS REQUIRED TO PREPARE ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, COPIES SHALL BE INCLUDED WITH THE STATEMENT:
S. 5785 4
(1) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT OF DIRECTORS PURSUANT
TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED NINETEEN OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW;
(2) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT VERIFIED CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION (F) OF SECTION FOURTEEN HUNDRED TWO OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATION LAW;
(3) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FORM 990;
AND
(4) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION
THIRTY-A OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
(B) THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT
APPLY TO THE RENEWAL OF A CONTRACT WHEN THE CONTRACT IS DEEMED RENEWED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION. UPON GOOD CAUSE
SHOWN, THE TOWN BOARD MAY, BY RESOLUTION, WAIVE IN WHOLE OR IN PART THE
REQUIREMENT THAT THE FIRE COMPANY FILE THE STATEMENT, AND COPIES OF
DOCUMENTS, REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
§ 3. Paragraph 9 of subdivision 3 of section 4-412 of the village law
is amended by adding a new subparagraph a-1 to read as follows:
A-1. (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (II) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, PRIOR
TO COMMENCING THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS FOR SUCH CONTRACT WITH AN INCORPO-
RATED FIRE COMPANY, THE INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY SHALL FILE WITH THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES A STATEMENT ITEMIZING THE ESTIMATED COSTS OF THE
INCORPORATED FIRE COMPANY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES
UNDER THE PROSPECTIVE CONTRACT. THE ESTIMATED COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
PROVISION OF SERVICES UNDER THE PROSPECTIVE CONTRACT ITEMIZED IN THE
STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THOSE, IF ANY, FOR: SUPPLIES;
MATERIALS; OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS;
INSURANCE; TRAINING; PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, GEAR AND OTHER PERSONNEL
COSTS; BUILDING RENTAL, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION; AND A SPECIFIED
PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF CAPITAL COSTS. IF THE FIRE COMPANY IS REQUIRED TO
PREPARE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, COPIES SHALL BE INCLUDED WITH
THE STATEMENT:
(A) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT OF DIRECTORS PURSUANT
TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED NINETEEN OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW;
(B) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT VERIFIED CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION (F) OF SECTION FOURTEEN HUNDRED TWO OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATION LAW;
(C) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE FORM 990;
AND
(D) THE FIRE COMPANY'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION
THIRTY-A OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
(II) UPON GOOD CAUSE SHOWN, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY, BY RESOLUTION,
WAIVE IN WHOLE OR IN PART THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE FIRE COMPANY FILE THE
STATEMENT, AND COPIES OF DOCUMENTS, REQUIRED BY CLAUSE (I) OF THIS
SUBPARAGRAPH.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on January first next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to contracts
with a term commencing after March first of the year in which it shall
have become a law.