S 6009 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to youth programs sponsored by fire departments

Summary
Relates to youth programs sponsored by fire departments; provides that participants may respond to an emergency or hazardous activity, but shall remain in an appropriate and safe designated area that has been established by the chief or officer in charge; provides such participants cannot respond to an emergency on a vehicle using lights and/or sirens; provides such participants may not enter a burning structure; protects volunteer fire departments and fire companies from certain criminal and civil liability potentially arising from the operation of a youth program.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action May 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S6009A S6009B · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill version adds a new requirement for youth fire programs to establish written safety procedures and clarifies that participants cannot operate vehicles, even if they respond to emergencies. It also updates the Penal Law to explicitly state that volunteer fire departments are not liable for endangering a child's welfare when engaging in approved youth training activities.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding youth program safety protocols was expanded to require written procedures, and the legal protections for volunteer fire departments were broadened to cover youth training scenarios.
REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement for volunteer fire departments to create written safety or training procedures for all youth programs.

Strengthened vehicle safety rules by explicitly prohibiting youth participants from operating any vehicles, regardless of whether they are responding to an emergency.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific exemption in the Penal Law stating that volunteer fire departments and their members cannot be charged with endangering a child's welfare when conducting approved youth training activities.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 9, 2025

How they voted

620
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 63
Jun 9, 2025
D Democratic41
41 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican22
21 Yea 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
2
May 19, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
lower
May 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
May 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 6009B
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 6009A
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of April Baskin
April Baskin
DDemocratic
NY
63