Bill Text: NY A05139 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes the disaster preparedness first responder recognition program; names the initial first responders to receive recognition.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - referred to governmental operations [A05139 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A05139-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          5139
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 6, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON,
          McKEVITT, M. G. MILLER, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Governmental Operations
        AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the  establishment  of
          the  disaster preparedness first responder recognition program and the
          honoring of certain retired firefighters who were killed at the  World
          Trade Center on September 11, 2001
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Legislative declarations.  The legislature hereby finds and
     2  determines that there should  be  established  a  disaster  preparedness
     3  first  responder  recognition program to honor those brave men and women
     4  who have given their lives as part of a disaster preparedness  or  first
     5  response situation, in an effort to help, save and care for their fellow
     6  man.
     7    The  legislature  hereby  further  finds  and  declares  that James J.
     8  Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes, were retired New York city
     9  firefighters at the time of the September 11, 2001 attack on  the  World
    10  Trade  Center  Complex  in  the  state  and  city of New York. That such
    11  retired firefighters, James J. Corrigan, William Wren,  and  Phillip  T.
    12  Hayes,  were  at  the  scene of such September 11, 2001 attack, and with
    13  great heroism, courage and dedication to their community and fellow man,
    14  and without concern for themselves or their own personal safety or  well
    15  being,  such  retired  firefighters James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and
    16  Phillip T. Hayes bravely assisted the rescue and firefighting efforts at
    17  the World Trade Center, and in so doing, gave their lives in the  furth-
    18  erance of such noble and benevolent efforts.
    19    The legislature further hereby finds and declares, that the courageous
    20  public service of James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes,
    21  evidenced  by  their  commitment to, and concern for, their state, their
    22  city and their fellow citizens, over and  above  any  risk  or  personal
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09143-01-7
        A. 5139                             2
     1  peril  they  faced, as well as making the ultimate sacrifice as a result
     2  of such service, demonstrates that these men and their  surviving  fami-
     3  lies  are  deserving of the highest recognition, appreciation, honor and
     4  gratitude that their state, their city, and their community can provide.
     5    § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 29-l to read
     6  as follows:
     7    §  29-l. Disaster preparedness first responder recognition program. 1.
     8  There is hereby created a disaster preparedness first responder recogni-
     9  tion program. The purpose of such program is to provide recognition  and
    10  honor to those brave men and women who have given their lives as part of
    11  a  disaster  preparedness  or  first response situation, in an effort to
    12  help, save and care for their fellow man. The program shall  be  managed
    13  and  maintained jointly by the office of homeland security and the state
    14  emergency management office. Each year, in coordination with  the  staff
    15  at  the  office  of homeland security and the state emergency management
    16  office, the program shall honor three individuals from  New  York  state
    17  who deserve recognition and honor for their efforts.
    18    2.  There shall be three initial honorees of the disaster preparedness
    19  first responder recognition program.  Such  initial  honorees  shall  be
    20  James  J.  Corrigan,  William  Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes. Such honoring
    21  shall be in recognition of such  retired  firefighters  who  lost  their
    22  lives  at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As part of their
    23  status as initial honorees by the disaster preparedness first  responder
    24  recognition  program,  notwithstanding  any  provision  of  any general,
    25  special, or local law to the contrary, the state of New York,  the  city
    26  of  New  York  and  the  fire  department of the city of New York, shall
    27  bestow, award and provide James J. Corrigan, William Wren,  and  Phillip
    28  T.  Hayes,  and  their  families, with all the benefits, honors, merits,
    29  ceremonies, recognitions, awards and status provided to any other  fire-
    30  fighter  who  perished  at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001,
    31  including but not limited to:
    32    a. Posthumously awarding James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and  Phillip
    33  T.  Hayes the Medal of Valor and the Special World Trade Center Medal of
    34  Valor and presenting the same to the families of such men at a  ceremony
    35  held in their honor;
    36    b. Adding the names of James J. Corrigan, William Wren, and Phillip T.
    37  Hayes  to all monuments, memorials and tributes honoring the brave fire-
    38  fighters from the city of New York who gave their  lives  in  the  World
    39  Trade  Center  on  September  11,  2001,  including but not exclusive of
    40  adding their names to the Wall of Honor at the Fire  Department  of  the
    41  city of New York's headquarters;
    42    c.  Posthumously  retiring  the  badges  of James J. Corrigan, William
    43  Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes;
    44    d. Establishing a picture memorial to James J. Corrigan, William Wren,
    45  and Phillip T. Hayes in the firehouse in  which  each  such  firefighter
    46  last  served, commemorating such firefighters' service and acknowledging
    47  their sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001;
    48    e. Establishing a picture memorial to James J. Corrigan, William Wren,
    49  and Phillip T. Hayes in the office of homeland security  and  the  state
    50  emergency  management  office,  commemorating such firefighters' service
    51  and acknowledging their sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September
    52  11, 2001.
    53    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the  recog-
    54  nition activities required by section two of this act shall be completed
    55  on  or  before the ninetieth day from the date upon which this act shall
    56  have become a law.