NEW CITY- Lawmakers gathered in Rockland to call for the passage of a set of bills currently before the state legislature they say would improve fire safety in the state. The bipartisan coalition of lawmakers bound together in their charge following a series of deadly fires in the county, including a March 2021 fire that claimed the life of volunteer Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd.
“We are all aware of the housing challenges this county faces. Challenges – which are decades in the making – and reaching a breaking point. One thing is clear… more needs to be done. So since last summer my administration & I have been formally collaborating with our New York State lawmakers and their staffs to stand behind a package of fire safety bills that we believe can and will save lives,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.
The group called for the passage of a package of bills that include:
- State assistance to local governments for the enforcement of fire prevention and building codes using monies paid into the code enforcement account.
- The establishment of the felony crimes of reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the first and second degrees.
- Authorizing municipalities in the county of Rockland to add unpaid housing code violation penalties, costs and fines to such municipalities’ annual tax levy.
- Increasing benefits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.
- Enhancing 911 – Communication enhancements by increasing state grant and reimbursements to $100 million for development, consolidation, or operation of public safety communications systems.
- Adding the requirement that if the Secretary of State (SOS) is notified that a municipality is not providing administration & enforcement of the Uniform Fire Prevention & Building Code that complies with minimum standards the SOS may investigate & conduct hearings into alleged failure of local code enforcement. This proposal essentially codifies what SOS did in…
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