STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          6897
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                     March 25, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of A. COOK, ORTIZ, ZEBROWSKI, M. G. MILLER -- Multi-
          Sponsored by -- M. of A. AUBRY, COLTON, CUSICK, CYMBROWITZ, GOTTFRIED,
          PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
        AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation  to  requiring  a
          written  notice, prior to changing the level of fire services provided
          in cities having a population of one million or more
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.    The  legislature  hereby finds and determines that fire
     2  protection is one of the most significant and vital  municipal  services
     3  provided to the citizens of the state.  Any proposed action by municipal
     4  officers  which  threatens  to  alter the manner or level of delivery of
     5  fire services ought to be on notice to the community since it  is  quite
     6  often of significant concern to the affected community.
     7    In  order to enable the community to have sufficient public discussion
     8  through the use of existing community boards and their established abil-
     9  ity to effectively notify the members of the community  and  to  conduct
    10  public hearings on the proposal, the within provisions are enacted.
    11    §  2.  The  general  municipal  law is amended by adding a new section
    12  209-gg to read as follows:
    13    § 209-gg. Reduction of fire services in certain municipalities;  prior
    14  notice  required.    Notwithstanding  any  inconsistent provision of any
    15  general, special or local law, or rule or regulation  to  the  contrary,
    16  the  fire  commissioner  of any fire department in cities having a popu-
    17  lation of one million or more shall not substantially alter the  bounda-
    18  ries  of fire companies, once fixed, close a borough fire communications
    19  office, remove or dismantle a fire alarm box, or close, remove, or relo-
    20  cate a fire company unless at least thirty  days  prior  to  the  taking
    21  effect  of  such  action  written  notice thereof has been given to each
    22  local community board or boards having jurisdiction over  that  part  of
    23  the city directly affected by such proposed action or service reduction.
    24    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD08033-01-9