November 2, 2009
In New York State, if you are a volunteer firefighter at one department you can't serve at another.
Some state lawmakers are trying to change that, for a second time.
A new bill introduced to the State Assembly would make it legal for volunteer firefighters to serve more than one department.
New York is the only state in the country with restrictions on dual membership.
The new bill wouldn't mandate that any fire department accept a dual volunteer fire fighters, it just removes the state law restrictions.
Lawmakers say allowing people to serve as many departments as they can would create an influx of volunteers, while keeping taxpayer costs to a minimum.
Governor David Paterson vetoed a similar bill last year because it did not address the issue of member benefits.
This new bill does.
