Health Insurance for Volunteer Firefighters
Legislation providing for low cost Health Insurance for Volunteers, sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito has passed both houses of the legislature and is now awaiting Governor David Paterson's signature. FASNY members are urged to communicate to the Governor with their support. The new amendments to the law allow for the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) to offer coverage for volunteers through local government entities offering coverage through their plan. Those local government entities were excluded from the 2008 statute but are now allowed to offer coverage in this new bill. With the advent of NYSHIP participation it is anticipated that guidelines will be developed to assist local government entities in offering this coverage and to foster a greater understanding of the role and requirements of the municipalities and their Volunteers, including the key areas of premium collection, questions regarding multi-jurisdictional coverage areas, and direct coverage opportunities by NYSHIP. A more detailed explanation of the legislation can be found on here: http://www.fasny.com/legislative-alert-healthinsurance.aspx. A message is provided that you may use to urge the Governor to sign this important legislation via the Take Action link.
Assistance to Firefighters grant awarded
U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, has notified the Athens Volunteer Fire Department that is has been awarded a $90,000 grant to purchase full turn-out gear for 25 firefighters, as well as a station breathing compressor that will benefit all local fire departments.
The department received news this week that it has been selected to receive an “Assistance to Firefighters” grant, awarded annually by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
The grant provides the fire department with $90,000 in funding, with the Village of Athens required to kick in $4,500 in matching funds. The money will be used to purchase 25 sets of full turn-out gear, including the jacket, pants, helmet and rescue harness.They don’t need new gloves, because those have already been replaced by the village, but the department’s existing turn-out gear is 10 years old — the age when the National Fire Protection Association strongly recommends it be replaced.
The funds will also purchase a station breathing air compressor, which fills air tanks used by the firefighters. And that will benefit fire departments all around the area — instead of paying to refill their air tanks, departments from West Athens, Catskill, Coxsackie or elsewhere will be able to come to Athens and refill their tanks for free.
“It can cost quite a bit of money to fill the air tanks if a firefighter uses up the air,” Greco said. “This would save fire departments that expense.”
If the department hadn’t received the FEMA grant, it would have cost the village nearly $100,000 to replace the aging safety equipment and to purchase the air compressor.
This is not the first time the Athens fire department has received a FEMA grant — the department received a similar grant, which was used to purchase other equipment, about five years ago.
Provided by John Miller