S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9756
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 5, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JONES -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
authorizing the forest ranger force to establish a training program
for volunteer wild land search and rescue personnel
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 18 of section 9-0105 of the environmental
conservation law, as added by chapter 617 of the laws of 1984, is
amended to read as follows:
18. A. Establish, operate and maintain a search and rescue program in
fire towns and fire districts of the state. For the purposes of this
section fire towns shall mean such towns provided for in section 9-1107
of this chapter and fire districts shall be deemed to be the fire
protection areas provided for in section 9-1109 of this chapter and
regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority of such sections.
Pursuant to such program the forest ranger force of the department shall
have the authority to organize, direct and execute search operations for
lost persons or civilian aircraft and conduct rescue operations for
persons injured or in serious danger of injury in the wild, remote and
forested areas of fire towns and fire districts of the state; provided
that, where criminal conduct is suspected or fugitive search is involved
such search or rescue operations shall be conducted under the jurisdic-
tion of the appropriate law enforcement agency. Search and rescue oper-
ations outside of fire towns and fire districts may be conducted by the
forest ranger force upon request of the agency conducting such opera-
tion.
B. PURSUANT TO SUCH PROGRAM, THE FOREST RANGER FORCE OF THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH, DIRECT AND MAINTAIN A PROGRAM FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING AND CREDENTIALING VOLUNTEER, WILD LAND SEARCH
AND RESCUE PERSONNEL TO ASSIST AND RESPOND ALONG WITH THE FOREST RANGER
FORCE TO SEARCH FOR LOST AND MISSING PERSONS IN THE WILD, REMOTE AND
FORESTED AREAS OF THE STATE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
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