BILL NUMBER: S5845

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to waiving the annual service fee for distinctive "September
eleventh, two thousand one remembrance" license plates for certain first
responders

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation would allow for the waiving of the annual service fee
for distinctive "September eleventh, two thousand one remembrance"
license plates for certified first responders who are disabled as a
result of a certified World Trade Center medical condition.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1:

Section one of this bill amends subdivision 2 of section 404-ee of the
vehicle and traffic law by adding "certified first responders" of the
September eleventh, two thousand one attacks who have become disabled as
a result of a certified World Trade Center medical condition waiving the
              

fee for the "September eleventh, two thousand one remembrance" license
plate.

Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Each day, the number of deaths for first responders who participated in
World Trade Center rescue, recovery and cleanup operations continues to
grow. Almost eighteen years after the attacks on the World Trade Center,
over ten thousand first responders and others in the disaster area have
been diagnosed with cancer and other debilitating illnesses, and more
than 2,000 deaths have been related to 9/11 related illness.

Even for first responders who are still in good health, the fear of
future illness is constantly in their minds. However, these heroes still
have to focus on providing financially for their families, and preparing
for the potential risk of developing illness as a result of their call
to serve on that fateful day. For their sacrifice, these individuals
deserve the remembrance plate honoring their heroism without the addi-
tional cost charged for these plates.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.