Bill > A06410

This bill increases benefits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers who are injured in the line of duty by substantially raising their weekly compensation rates across various disability scenarios. Specifically, the bill doubles the weekly benefits for permanent total disability from $600 to $1,200 and increases the maximum lump sum for serious disfigurement from $20,000 to $40,000. For temporary and permanent partial disabilities, the bill introduces a significant rate increase starting March 1, 2025, with weekly payments rising from $400 to $800 for high-level disability cases (75% or greater loss of earning capacity), and from $268 to $536 for moderate disability cases (50-75% loss of earning capacity). The bill also makes gender-neutral language changes, replacing phrases like "he or she" with more inclusive terms. These changes apply to both volunteer firefighters' and volunteer ambulance workers' benefit laws, ensuring that these critical emergency service volunteers receive more comprehensive financial support if they are injured while performing their vital community services.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6410