S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4449
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 14, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  STECK,  FAHY,  SANTABARBARA -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Local Governments
 
 AN ACT to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and  the  volun-
   teer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to increasing certain
   disability payments and specifying payments for volunteer firefighters
   and  ambulance  workers  injured  in the line of duty on or after July
   first, two thousand twenty-four
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  8 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, as
 amended by chapter 401 of the laws  of  2016,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   §  8.  Permanent total disability benefits. In the case of total disa-
 bility adjudged to be permanent the volunteer firefighter shall be  paid
 [six] NINE hundred dollars for each week during the continuance thereof.
 Permanent  total  disability,  within the meaning of this section, shall
 exist only if the earning capacity of the volunteer firefighter has been
 lost permanently and totally as the result of the injury.  The  loss  of
 both  hands,  or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or
 any two thereof, shall, in  the  absence  of  conclusive  proof  to  the
 contrary,  constitute permanent total disability, but in all other cases
 permanent total disability shall be determined in  accordance  with  the
 facts.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an injured
 volunteer firefighter disabled due to the loss or total loss of  use  of
 both  eyes,  or both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or
 any two thereof shall not suffer any diminution of such  weekly  benefit
 by  engaging  in business or employment provided his or her weekly earn-
 ings or wages, when combined with his or her weekly benefit shall not be
 in excess of eight hundred dollars; and further provided that the appli-
 cation of this section shall not result in reduction of  benefits  which
 an  injured  volunteer  firefighter  who  is disabled due to the loss or
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05930-01-3
              

 A. 4449                             2
 
 total loss of use of both eyes, or both hands, or  both  arms,  or  both
 feet,  or  both  legs, or any two thereof would otherwise be entitled to
 under any other provisions of this article.
   §  2. Section 9 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, as amended
 by chapter 523 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   § 9. Temporary total disability benefits. In  the  case  of  temporary
 total  disability  the  volunteer  firefighter shall be paid one hundred
 twenty-five dollars  for  each  week  during  the  continuance  thereof;
 provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the
 line  of  duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight to
 December thirty-first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, said  firefighter
 shall receive one hundred eighty dollars per week during the continuance
 thereof;  and  further  provided, that when the volunteer firefighter is
 injured in the line of duty on or after January first, nineteen  hundred
 seventy-nine  to  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred eighty-three, said
 firefighter shall receive two hundred fifteen dollars  per  week  during
 the  continuance  thereof; and further provided, that when the volunteer
 firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nine-
 teen hundred eighty-three to June thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-
 four,  said firefighter shall receive two hundred fifty-five dollars per
 week during the continuance thereof; and further provided, that when the
 volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on  or  after  July
 first,  nineteen hundred eighty-four to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 eighty-five, said firefighter shall  receive  two  hundred  seventy-five
 dollars  per  week during the continuance thereof; and further provided,
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred eighty-five to June thirtieth,  nine-
 teen  hundred  ninety,  said  firefighter  shall  receive  three hundred
 dollars per week during the continuance thereof; and  further  provided,
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after  July  first,  nineteen hundred ninety to June thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred ninety-one, said firefighter shall receive three  hundred  forty
 dollars  per  week during the continuance thereof; and further provided,
 that when a volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty  on  or
 after  July  first, nineteen hundred ninety-one to June thirtieth, nine-
 teen hundred ninety-two, said firefighter shall  receive  three  hundred
 fifty  dollars  per  week  during  the  continuance thereof; and further
 provided, that when a volunteer firefighter is injured in  the  line  of
 duty  on  or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two to June thir-
 teenth, two thousand twenty-one, said  firefighter  shall  receive  four
 hundred  dollars  per  week  during the continuance thereof; and further
 provided, that when a volunteer firefighter is injured in  the  line  of
 duty  on  or after July first, two thousand twenty-one TO JUNE THIRTIETH
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, said firefighter  shall  receive  six  hundred
 fifty  dollars  per  week  during  the  continuance thereof; AND FURTHER
 PROVIDED, THAT WHEN A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN  THE  LINE  OF
 DUTY  ON OR AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, SAID FIREFIGHTER
 SHALL RECEIVE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER  WEEK  DURING    THE  CONTINUANCE
 THEREOF.    Temporary  total  disability,  within  the  meaning  of this
 section, shall exist only if the earning capacity of the volunteer fire-
 fighter has been lost temporarily and totally as the result of the inju-
 ry. In case of temporary total disability and permanent partial disabil-
 ity both  resulting  from  the  same  injury,  if  the  temporary  total
 disability  continues  for  a longer period than the number of weeks set
 forth in the following schedule, the period of temporary total disabili-
 ty in excess of such number of  weeks  shall  be  added  to  the  period
 A. 4449                             3
 
 provided  in  section  ten  of this article: arm, thirty-two weeks; leg,
 forty weeks; hand, thirty-two weeks; foot, thirty-two weeks; ear,  twen-
 ty-five  weeks;  eye,  twenty  weeks;  thumb,  twenty-four  weeks; first
 finger,  eighteen  weeks; great toe, twelve weeks; second finger, twelve
 weeks; third finger, eight weeks; fourth finger, eight weeks; toe  other
 than  great  toe,  eight weeks. In any case resulting in loss or partial
 loss of use of arm, leg, hand, foot, ear, eye,  thumb,  finger  or  toe,
 where  the temporary total disability does not extend beyond the periods
 above mentioned for such injury, benefits shall be limited to the sched-
 ule contained in section ten of this article.
   § 3. The opening paragraph and  paragraph  (g)  of  subdivision  1  of
 section 10 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, the opening para-
 graph  as  amended  by  chapter 21 of the laws of 1991, paragraph (g) as
 amended by chapter 584 of the laws of 1974, the opening subparagraph and
 subparagraph 4 of paragraph (g) as amended by chapter 476 of the laws of
 2018 and subparagraphs 1 and 2 of paragraph (g) as  amended  by  chapter
 924 of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as follows:
   In the case of disability partial in character, but permanent in qual-
 ity,  the  volunteer  firefighter  shall be paid ninety-five dollars for
 each week for the period specified in this subdivision, provided, howev-
 er, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line  of  duty
 on  or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight to June thir-
 tieth, nineteen hundred eighty-three, such payment shall be one  hundred
 five  dollars  for each week, and further provided that when a volunteer
 firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nine-
 teen hundred eighty-three to  and  including  June  thirtieth,  nineteen
 hundred  eighty-four,  such  payments  shall  be one hundred twenty-five
 dollars for each week and provided further that when the volunteer fire-
 fighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first,  nineteen
 hundred  eighty-four  to  and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 eighty-five such payments shall be one hundred thirty-five  dollars  for
 each  week  and  provided further that when the volunteer firefighter is
 injured in the line of duty on or after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred
 eighty-five  to  and  including  June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety
 such payments shall be one hundred fifty  dollars  for  each  week,  and
 provided  further  that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the
 line of duty on or after July first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety  to  and
 including  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-one such payments
 shall be two hundred eighty dollars for each week, and provided  further
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-one to and including June
 thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two  such  payments  shall  be  three
 hundred  fifty dollars for each week, and provided further that when the
 volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on  or  after  July
 first,  nineteen  hundred ninety-two such payments shall be four hundred
 dollars for each week, AND PROVIDED  FURTHER  THAT  WHEN  THE  VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER  IS  INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO
 THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE  NINE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR
 EACH WEEK as follows:
   (g)  Other  cases.  In all other cases of permanent partial disability
 the volunteer firefighter shall be paid for each week during the contin-
 uance thereof, as follows:
   1. If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is  seventy-five  per
 centum, or greater, he or she shall be paid ninety-five dollars for each
 week,  provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured
 in the line of duty on or after January first, nineteen  hundred  seven-
 A. 4449                             4

 ty-eight to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-three,
 such  payment  shall be one hundred five dollars for each week provided,
 however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the  line  of
 duty  on  or  after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred eighty-three to and
 including June thirtieth, nineteen  hundred  eighty-four,  such  payment
 shall  be one hundred twenty-five dollars for each week provided, howev-
 er, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line  of  duty
 on  or  after  July first, nineteen hundred eighty-four to and including
 June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five such payment shall  be  one
 hundred  thirty-five dollars for each week, provided, however, that when
 the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of  duty  on  or  after
 July  first,  nineteen hundred eighty-five to and including June thirti-
 eth, nineteen hundred ninety such payment shall  be  one  hundred  fifty
 dollars  for each week, provided, however, that when the volunteer fire-
 fighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first,  nineteen
 hundred  ninety  to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred nine-
 ty-one such payment shall be two hundred eighty dollars for  each  week,
 and  provided  further that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in
 the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one  to
 and  including  June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two such payment
 shall be three hundred fifty dollars for each week, and provided further
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two such payment shall be four
 hundred dollars for each week, AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT WHEN THE VOLUN-
 TEER FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER JULY  FIRST,
 TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR SUCH PAYMENT SHALL BE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR
 EACH WEEK;
   2. If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is fifty per  centum,
 or  greater,  but  less than seventy-five per centum, he or she shall be
 paid sixty-three dollars and thirty-three cents for each week, provided,
 however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the  line  of
 duty  on  or  after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight to and
 including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred  eighty-three,  such  payment
 shall be seventy dollars for each week, provided, however, that when the
 volunteer  firefighter  is  injured in the line of duty on or after July
 first, nineteen hundred eighty-three to and  including  June  thirtieth,
 nineteen  hundred eighty-four such payment shall be eighty-three dollars
 and thirty-three cents for each week, provided, however, that  when  the
 volunteer  firefighter  is  injured in the line of duty on or after July
 first, nineteen hundred eighty-four, to and  including  June  thirtieth,
 nineteen  hundred  eighty-five, such payment shall be ninety dollars for
 each week, provided, however, that when  the  volunteer  firefighter  is
 injured  in  the  line  of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred
 eighty-five to and including June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety
 such  payment  shall  be  one  hundred  dollars for each week, provided,
 however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the  line  of
 duty  on  or  after July first, nineteen hundred ninety to and including
 June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one such payment  shall  be  one
 hundred   eighty-six  dollars  and  seventy-six  cents  for  each  week,
 provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the
 line of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one to  and
 including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two such payment shall
 be  two  hundred  thirty-four  dollars  and  fifty  cents for each week,
 provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the
 line of duty on or after July first, nineteen  hundred  ninety-two  such
 payment  shall  be  two  hundred  sixty-eight  dollars  for  each  week,
 A. 4449                             5
 
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN THE
 LINE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER  JULY  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-FOUR  SUCH
 PAYMENT SHALL BE FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK;
   3.  If  the  percentage of loss of earning capacity is twenty-five per
 centum, or greater, but less than fifty per centum,  he  shall  be  paid
 [thirty] TWO HUNDRED dollars for each week;
   4.  If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is less than twenty-
 five per centum, he or she shall [not]  be  paid  [any  weekly  benefit.
 Permanent  partial  disability,  within  the  meaning of this paragraph,
 shall exist only if the earning capacity of  the  volunteer  firefighter
 has been permanently and partially lost as the result of the injury. The
 workers' compensation board shall determine the degree of such disabili-
 ty  and  such board may reconsider such degree on its own motion or upon
 application of any party in interest] FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK.
   § 4. Section 8 of the volunteer ambulance  workers'  benefit  law,  as
 amended  by  chapter  401  of  the  laws  of 2016, is amended to read as
 follows:
   § 8. Permanent total disability benefits. In the case of  total  disa-
 bility  adjudged to be permanent the volunteer ambulance worker shall be
 paid [six] NINE hundred dollars for each  week  during  the  continuance
 thereof. Permanent total disability, within the meaning of this section,
 shall  exist  only  if  the  earning capacity of the volunteer ambulance
 worker has been lost permanently and totally as the result of the  inju-
 ry. The loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or
 both eyes, or any two thereof, shall, in the absence of conclusive proof
 to the contrary, constitute permanent total disability, but in all other
 cases  permanent total disability shall be determined in accordance with
 the facts. Notwithstanding any other  provisions  of  this  chapter,  an
 injured  volunteer  ambulance  worker  disabled due to the loss or total
 loss of use of both eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or both feet,  or
 both  legs,  or  any two thereof shall not suffer any diminution of such
 weekly benefit by engaging in business or employment provided his or her
 weekly earnings or wages, when combined with his  weekly  benefit  shall
 not be in excess of eight hundred dollars; and further provided that the
 application  of  this  section shall not result in reduction of benefits
 which an injured volunteer ambulance worker who is disabled due  to  the
 loss  or total loss of use of both eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or
 both feet, or both legs, or any two thereof would otherwise be  entitled
 to under any other provisions of this article.
   §  5.  Section  9  of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, as
 amended by chapter 523 of the laws  of  2021,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   § 9. Temporary  total  disability  benefits.  In the case of temporary
 total disability the volunteer ambulance  worker  shall  be  paid  three
 hundred  dollars for each week during the continuance thereof; provided,
 however, that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line
 of duty on or after the effective date of this chapter to  June  thirti-
 eth,  nineteen hundred ninety; further provided, that when the volunteer
 ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on or after July  first,
 nineteen  hundred ninety to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one,
 said ambulance worker shall receive three hundred forty dollars per week
 during the continuance thereof, and further provided, that when a volun-
 teer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on  or  after  July
 first,  nineteen  hundred ninety-one to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 ninety-two, said ambulance worker  shall  receive  three  hundred  fifty
 dollars  per  week during the continuance thereof; provided further that
 A. 4449                             6
 
 when a volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty  on  or
 after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred ninety-two to June thirtieth, two
 thousand twenty-one, such ambulance worker shall be  paid  four  hundred
 dollars  for  each week during the continuance thereof; provided further
 that when a volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on
 or after July first, two thousand  twenty-one  TO  JUNE  THIRTIETH,  TWO
 THOUSAND  TWENTY-FOUR  such  ambulance  worker shall be paid six hundred
 fifty dollars for each week during  the  continuance  thereof;  PROVIDED
 FURTHER THAT WHEN A VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF
 DUTY  ON  OR  AFTER  JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR SUCH AMBULANCE
 WORKER SHALL BE PAID NINE HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR  EACH  WEEK  DURING  THE
 CONTINUANCE  THEREOF.  Temporary total disability, within the meaning of
 this section, shall exist only if the earning capacity of the  volunteer
 ambulance  worker has been lost temporarily and totally as the result of
 the injury. In case of temporary total disability and permanent  partial
 disability  both  resulting from the same injury, if the temporary total
 disability continues for a longer period than the number  of  weeks  set
 forth in the following schedule, the period of temporary total disabili-
 ty  in  excess  of  such  number  of  weeks shall be added to the period
 provided in section ten of this chapter:  arm,  thirty-two  weeks;  leg,
 forty  weeks; hand, thirty-two weeks; foot, thirty-two weeks; ear, twen-
 ty-five weeks;  eye,  twenty  weeks;  thumb,  twenty-four  weeks;  first
 finger,  eighteen  weeks; great toe, twelve weeks; second finger, twelve
 weeks; third finger, eight weeks, fourth finger, eight weeks; toe  other
 than  great  toe,  eight weeks. In any case resulting in loss or partial
 loss of use of arm, leg, hand, foot, ear, eye,  thumb,  finger  or  toe,
 where  the temporary total disability does not extend beyond the periods
 above mentioned for such injury, benefits shall be limited to the sched-
 ule contained in section ten of this chapter.
   § 6. The opening paragraph and paragraph g of subdivision 1 of section
 10 of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law,  the  opening  para-
 graph  as  amended  by  chapter  21  of the laws of 1991, paragraph g as
 amended by chapter 604 of the laws of 1989 and subparagraphs 1 and 2  of
 paragraph  g  as amended by chapter 924 of the laws of 1990, are amended
 to read as follows:
   In the case of disability partial in character, but permanent in qual-
 ity, the volunteer ambulance worker, injured in the line of  duty  shall
 be paid one hundred fifty dollars for each week for the period specified
 in  this  subdivision,  provided, however, that when the volunteer ambu-
 lance worker is injured in the line of duty on or  after  the  effective
 date  of  this chapter to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 ninety, and provided further that when the volunteer ambulance worker is
 injured in the line of duty on or after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred
 ninety to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one such
 payments shall be two hundred eighty dollars for each week, and provided
 further  that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line
 of duty on or after July  first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-one  to  and
 including  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-two such payments
 shall be three hundred fifty dollars for each week; and provided further
 that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of  duty
 on  or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two such payments shall
 be four hundred dollars for each week; AND PROVIDED  FURTHER  THAT  WHEN
 THE  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE  WORKER  IS  INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR
 AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL  BE  NINE
 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK as follows:
 A. 4449                             7
 
   g. Other cases. In all other cases of permanent partial disability the
 volunteer  ambulance  worker  shall  be  paid  for each week, during the
 continuance thereof, as follows:
   (1)  If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is seventy-five per
 centum, or greater, he or she shall be paid one  hundred  fifty  dollars
 for each week, provided, however, that the volunteer ambulance worker is
 injured in the line of duty on or after the effective date of this chap-
 ter  to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety, provided,
 however, that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line
 of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety to and including
 June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one such payment  shall  be  two
 hundred eighty dollars for each week, and provided further that when the
 volunteer  ambulance  worker  is injured in the line of duty on or after
 July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one to and including June thirtieth,
 nineteen hundred ninety-two such payment shall be  three  hundred  fifty
 dollars  for  each  week;  and  provided further that when the volunteer
 ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on or after July  first,
 nineteen  hundred ninety-two such payments shall be four hundred dollars
 for each week; AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT WHEN  THE  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE
 WORKER  IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOU-
 SAND TWENTY-FOUR, SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS  FOR  EACH
 WEEK.
   (2) If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is fifty per centum,
 or  greater,  but  less than seventy-five per centum, he or she shall be
 paid one hundred dollars for each  week,  provided,  however,  that  the
 volunteer  ambulance  worker  is injured in the line of duty on or after
 the effective date of this chapter  to  and  including  June  thirtieth,
 nineteen  hundred  ninety,  provided,  however,  that when the volunteer
 ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on or after July  first,
 nineteen  hundred  ninety  to  and  including  June  thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred ninety-one, such payment shall be one hundred eighty-six dollars
 and seventy-six cents for each week, provided, however,  that  when  the
 volunteer  ambulance  worker  is injured in the line of duty on or after
 July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one to and including June thirtieth,
 nineteen hundred ninety-two, such payment shall be two  hundred  thirty-
 four dollars and fifty cents for each week; provided, however, that when
 the  volunteer  ambulance  worker  is  injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two, such payment shall be two
 hundred sixty-eight dollars for each week; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT  WHEN
 THE  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE  WORKER  IS  INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR
 AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, SUCH PAYMENT SHALL  BE  FIVE
 HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK.
   (3)  If  the  percentage  of  loss  of earning capacity is twenty-five
 percentum, or greater, but less than fifty per centum, he or  she  shall
 be paid [thirty] TWO HUNDRED dollars for each week.
   (4)  If  the percentage of loss of earning capacity is less than twen-
 ty-five per centum, he or she shall [not] be paid [any  weekly  benefit]
 FIFTY DOLLARS PER WEEK.
   Permanent  partial  disability,  within the meaning of this paragraph,
 shall exist only if the earning  capacity  of  the  volunteer  ambulance
 worker  has  been  permanently  and  partially lost as the result of the
 injury. The workers' compensation board shall determine  the  degree  of
 such  disability  and  such  board may reconsider such degree on its own
 motion or upon application of any party in interest.
   § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.