Bill > S10244

This bill amends Chapter 459 of the laws of 1962, which incorporated the West Babylon Volunteer Firemen's Benevolent Association, to modernize its language and clarify the use of certain funds. Specifically, it changes gendered terms like "Firemen's" to "Firefighter's" and "fireman" to "firefighter" throughout the text, and also updates pronouns to be gender-neutral. The bill also increases the number of trustees for the association from eight to nine and modifies the use of funds collected from foreign fire insurance premium taxes, which are imposed on premiums for fire insurance covering property within the West Babylon fire department's protected territory. Previously, these taxes could only be used for the care and relief of disabled or indigent volunteer and exempt volunteer firefighters and their families; now, the association can use these funds for any purpose that furthers its objectives as outlined in section three of the original act. The changes to the insurance premium tax provisions will take effect for taxes due and premiums received on or after January 1, 2027.