Authorizes any prospective employer of a volunteer firefighter or paid firefighter to perform a background check on such applicant.
Impact
The introduction of A09147 can significantly alter the current landscape of hiring practices for firefighting personnel. By embedding these requirements into state law, employers now have a clearer mandate to vet their candidates through robust background checks. This may lead to a reduction in hiring risks for fire departments and enhance the trust of the communities they serve. Local governments will also need to align their hiring policies with this new state mandate, potentially leading to increased administrative and compliance costs.
Summary
Bill A09147 seeks to amend the criminal procedure law regarding how background checks are conducted for applicants seeking employment as volunteer or paid firefighters in New York State. The bill specifically allows prospective employers to perform comprehensive background checks on these applicants, ensuring that any previous criminal convictions can be considered during the hiring process. This legislative action reflects a growing concern for public safety and the integrity of firefighting services, emphasizing the need for trustworthy personnel in such critical roles.
Contention
While many support the provisions of A09147 as a necessary step for enhancing public safety, there are notable points of contention. Opponents may argue that stringent background checks could disallow potentially capable candidates simply due to past mistakes, thus affecting the volunteer recruitment pool. Critics of the bill express concerns over the balance between thorough security measures and the fair treatment of individuals who have made efforts to rehabilitate themselves following prior offenses. The implications of these checks must also be carefully weighed against the rights of applicants to privacy and employment opportunities.
Provides cancer screening and treatment for retired volunteer firefighters; defines retired volunteer firefighters; retroactively applies to retired volunteer firefighters.
Allows volunteer firefighters or emergency services personnel to attend training required under 19 NYCRR 426 without being penalized by their employer; creates tax incentives for employing volunteer firefighters or emergency services personnel.
Extends tuition free course benefits to volunteer firefighters or voluntary ambulance workers; authorizes the board of trustees of the state university to regulate the conferral of such benefits.
Requires the office of fire prevention and control to pay training stipends in specific amounts to volunteer firefighters for completion of certain firefighter trainings; provides that if a volunteer fire company pays training stipends to volunteer firefighters in an amount below what is otherwise required to be paid by OFPC, OFPC shall pay the remaining amount.
Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program and a volunteer firefighter scholarship fund; rewards volunteer firefighters who respond to twenty-five percent of emergency calls for eight years with a student loan award equal to four times the SUNY tuition rate; makes an appropriation therefor.