Senate Bill S3354

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3354

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to duties of
fire officers and firefighters specified in the fire code enacted by
local law in cities of one million or more in 2008


 PURPOSE :
The intent of this legislation is to provide a training and
familiarization for all fire officers and firefighters in the new Fire
and Building Codes for the purpose of determining compliance with
these codes and applicable laws, rules and regulations enforced by the
New York City Fire Department.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 209-ff -
requiring the city of New York to provide at least eighty hours of
training for all fire officers and firefighters in the new fire and
construction codes.

 EXISTING LAW :
In April 2003, the Mayor's Advisory Commission on the Adoption of the
International Building Code, established by Executive Order No. 30 of
2002, recommended the adoption of a new building code and related
codes based on the model codes published by the International Code
              

Council. The new building code and other construction codes were
adopted by the enactment of local law 33 of 2007.  Additionally, the
Fire Department after a three year process of reviewing the
International Fire Code and incorporating changes to reflect the
unique character of the city and existing fire code standards and
requirements which were adopted by local law 26 of 2008.

 JUSTIFICATION :
New York City Local law 26 of 2008 which enacted a new Fire Code and
Local Law 33 of 2007 which enacted the new NYC Building Code took
effect July 1, 2008. Prior to and subsequent to that date fire
officers and firefighters have received little to no training in the
specifics of the new codes or the provisions of which they are
empowered to enforce. Both of these new codes are extensive and
voluminous in their content. Additionally, there were many substantive
changes made to the existing law. This bill would provide a mechanism
to provide fire officers and firefighters with the necessary tools to
do their jobs safely.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New legislation.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.