Assembly Bill A1849

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1849
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STECK, SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Local Governments
 
 AN ACT to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law and  the  volun-
   teer ambulance workers' benefit law, in relation to increasing certain
   disability payments and specifying payments for volunteer firefighters
   and  ambulance workers injured in the line of duty on or after July 1,
   2026
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  8 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, as
 amended by chapter 401 of the laws  of  2016,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   §  8.  Permanent total disability benefits. In the case of total disa-
 bility adjudged to be permanent the volunteer firefighter shall be  paid
 [six] NINE hundred dollars for each week during the continuance thereof.
 Permanent  total  disability,  within the meaning of this section, shall
 exist only if the earning capacity of the volunteer firefighter has been
 lost permanently and totally as the result of the injury.  The  loss  of
 both  hands,  or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or
 any two thereof, shall, in  the  absence  of  conclusive  proof  to  the
 contrary,  constitute permanent total disability, but in all other cases
 permanent total disability shall be determined in  accordance  with  the
 facts.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an injured
 volunteer firefighter disabled due to the loss or total loss of  use  of
 both  eyes,  or both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or
 any two thereof shall not suffer any diminution of such  weekly  benefit
 by engaging in business or employment provided [his or her] SUCH INJURED
 VOLUNTEER  FIREFIGHTER'S  weekly  earnings  or wages, when combined with
 [his or her] THEIR weekly benefit  shall  not  be  in  excess  of  eight
 hundred  dollars;  and  further  provided  that  the application of this
 section shall not result in  reduction  of  benefits  which  an  injured
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04529-01-5
              

 A. 1849                             2
 
 volunteer  firefighter  who is disabled due to the loss or total loss of
 use of both eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or  both  feet,  or  both
 legs,  or any two thereof would otherwise be entitled to under any other
 provisions of this article.
   §  2. Section 9 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, as amended
 by chapter 523 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   § 9. Temporary total disability benefits. In  the  case  of  temporary
 total  disability  the  volunteer  firefighter shall be paid one hundred
 twenty-five dollars  for  each  week  during  the  continuance  thereof;
 provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the
 line  of  duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight to
 December thirty-first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, said  firefighter
 shall receive one hundred eighty dollars per week during the continuance
 thereof;  and  further  provided, that when the volunteer firefighter is
 injured in the line of duty on or after January first, nineteen  hundred
 seventy-nine  to  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred eighty-three, said
 firefighter shall receive two hundred fifteen dollars  per  week  during
 the  continuance  thereof; and further provided, that when the volunteer
 firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nine-
 teen hundred eighty-three to June thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-
 four,  said firefighter shall receive two hundred fifty-five dollars per
 week during the continuance thereof; and further provided, that when the
 volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on  or  after  July
 first,  nineteen hundred eighty-four to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 eighty-five, said firefighter shall  receive  two  hundred  seventy-five
 dollars  per  week during the continuance thereof; and further provided,
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred eighty-five to June thirtieth,  nine-
 teen  hundred  ninety,  said  firefighter  shall  receive  three hundred
 dollars per week during the continuance thereof; and  further  provided,
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after  July  first,  nineteen hundred ninety to June thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred ninety-one, said firefighter shall receive three  hundred  forty
 dollars  per  week during the continuance thereof; and further provided,
 that when a volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty  on  or
 after  July  first, nineteen hundred ninety-one to June thirtieth, nine-
 teen hundred ninety-two, said firefighter shall  receive  three  hundred
 fifty  dollars  per  week  during  the  continuance thereof; and further
 provided, that when a volunteer firefighter is injured in  the  line  of
 duty  on  or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two to June thir-
 teenth, two thousand twenty-one, said  firefighter  shall  receive  four
 hundred  dollars  per  week  during the continuance thereof; and further
 provided, that when a volunteer firefighter is injured in  the  line  of
 duty  on  or after July first, two thousand twenty-one TO JUNE THIRTIETH
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, said  firefighter  shall  receive  six  hundred
 fifty  dollars  per  week  during  the  continuance thereof; AND FURTHER
 PROVIDED, THAT WHEN A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN  THE  LINE  OF
 DUTY  ON  OR AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, SAID FIREFIGHTER
 SHALL RECEIVE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER  WEEK  DURING    THE  CONTINUANCE
 THEREOF.    Temporary  total  disability,  within  the  meaning  of this
 section, shall exist only if the earning capacity of the volunteer fire-
 fighter has been lost temporarily and totally as the result of the inju-
 ry. In case of temporary total disability and permanent partial disabil-
 ity both  resulting  from  the  same  injury,  if  the  temporary  total
 disability  continues  for  a longer period than the number of weeks set
 forth in the following schedule, the period of temporary total disabili-
 A. 1849                             3
 
 ty in excess of such number of  weeks  shall  be  added  to  the  period
 provided  in  section  ten  of this article: arm, thirty-two weeks; leg,
 forty weeks; hand, thirty-two weeks; foot, thirty-two weeks; ear,  twen-
 ty-five  weeks;  eye,  twenty  weeks;  thumb,  twenty-four  weeks; first
 finger, eighteen weeks; great toe, twelve weeks; second  finger,  twelve
 weeks;  third finger, eight weeks; fourth finger, eight weeks; toe other
 than great toe, eight weeks. In any case resulting in  loss  or  partial
 loss  of  use  of  arm, leg, hand, foot, ear, eye, thumb, finger or toe,
 where the temporary total disability does not extend beyond the  periods
 above mentioned for such injury, benefits shall be limited to the sched-
 ule contained in section ten of this article.
   §  3.  The  opening  paragraph  and  paragraph (g) of subdivision 1 of
 section 10 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, the opening para-
 graph as amended by chapter 21 of the laws of  1991,  paragraph  (g)  as
 amended by chapter 584 of the laws of 1974, the opening subparagraph and
 subparagraph 4 of paragraph (g) as amended by chapter 476 of the laws of
 2018  and  subparagraphs  1 and 2 of paragraph (g) as amended by chapter
 924 of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as follows:
   In the case of disability partial in character, but permanent in qual-
 ity, the volunteer firefighter shall be  paid  ninety-five  dollars  for
 each week for the period specified in this subdivision, provided, howev-
 er,  that  when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty
 on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight to June  thir-
 tieth,  nineteen hundred eighty-three, such payment shall be one hundred
 five dollars for each week, and further provided that when  a  volunteer
 firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nine-
 teen  hundred  eighty-three  to  and  including June thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred eighty-four, such payments  shall  be  one  hundred  twenty-five
 dollars for each week and provided further that when the volunteer fire-
 fighter  is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen
 hundred eighty-four to and including June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred
 eighty-five  such  payments shall be one hundred thirty-five dollars for
 each week and provided further that when the  volunteer  firefighter  is
 injured  in  the  line  of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred
 eighty-five to and including June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety
 such  payments  shall  be  one  hundred fifty dollars for each week, and
 provided further that when the volunteer firefighter is injured  in  the
 line  of  duty  on  or  after July first, nineteen hundred ninety to and
 including June thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-one  such  payments
 shall  be two hundred eighty dollars for each week, and provided further
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred  ninety-one  to  and  including  June
 thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-two  such  payments shall be three
 hundred fifty dollars for each week, and provided further that when  the
 volunteer  firefighter  is  injured in the line of duty on or after July
 first, nineteen hundred ninety-two such payments shall be  four  hundred
 dollars  for  each  week,  AND  PROVIDED FURTHER THAT WHEN THE VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER JULY  FIRST,  TWO
 THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH
 WEEK as follows:
   (g)  Other  cases.  In all other cases of permanent partial disability
 the volunteer firefighter shall be paid for each week during the contin-
 uance thereof, as follows:
   1. If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is  seventy-five  per
 centum, or greater, [he or she] SUCH VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER shall be paid
 ninety-five  dollars  for  each  week,  provided, however, that when the
 A. 1849                             4
 
 volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after January
 first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight to and including  June  thirtieth,
 nineteen  hundred  eighty-three,  such payment shall be one hundred five
 dollars  for  each week provided, however, that when the volunteer fire-
 fighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first,  nineteen
 hundred  eighty-three  to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 eighty-four, such payment shall be one hundred twenty-five  dollars  for
 each  week  provided,  however,  that  when the volunteer firefighter is
 injured in the line of duty on or after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred
 eighty-four  to  and  including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-
 five such payment shall be one  hundred  thirty-five  dollars  for  each
 week,  provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured
 in the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred eighty-five
 to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred  ninety  such  payment
 shall  be  one  hundred  fifty dollars for each week, provided, however,
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred ninety to and including June  thirti-
 eth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-one  such  payment  shall be two hundred
 eighty dollars for each week, and provided further that when the  volun-
 teer  firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first,
 nineteen hundred ninety-one to and including  June  thirtieth,  nineteen
 hundred ninety-two such payment shall be three hundred fifty dollars for
 each  week,  and provided further that when the volunteer firefighter is
 injured in the line of duty on or after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred
 ninety-two such payment shall be four hundred dollars for each week, AND
 PROVIDED  FURTHER  THAT WHEN THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN THE
 LINE OF DUTY ON OR  AFTER  JULY  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX  SUCH
 PAYMENT SHALL BE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK;
   2.  If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is fifty per centum,
 or greater, but less than seventy-five per  centum,  [he  or  she]  SUCH
 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER shall be paid sixty-three dollars and thirty-three
 cents  for  each  week, provided, however, that when the volunteer fire-
 fighter is injured in the line of duty on or after January first,  nine-
 teen  hundred  seventy-eight  to  and including June thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred eighty-three, such payment shall be  seventy  dollars  for  each
 week,  provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is injured
 in the line of duty on or after July  first,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-
 three to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-four such
 payment  shall  be  eighty-three dollars and thirty-three cents for each
 week, provided, however, that when the volunteer firefighter is  injured
 in  the  line  of  duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred eighty-
 four, to and including June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  eighty-five,
 such  payment  shall be ninety dollars for each week, provided, however,
 that when the volunteer firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or
 after July first, nineteen hundred eighty-five  to  and  including  June
 thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety  such payment shall be one hundred
 dollars for each week, provided, however, that when the volunteer  fire-
 fighter  is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen
 hundred ninety to and including June thirtieth, nineteen  hundred  nine-
 ty-one  such  payment shall be one hundred eighty-six dollars and seven-
 ty-six cents for each week, provided, however, that when  the  volunteer
 firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nine-
 teen  hundred  ninety-one  to  and  including  June  thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred ninety-two such payment shall be two hundred thirty-four dollars
 and fifty cents for each week, provided, however, that when  the  volun-
 teer  firefighter is injured in the line of duty on or after July first,
 A. 1849                             5
 
 nineteen hundred ninety-two such payment shall  be  two  hundred  sixty-
 eight  dollars for each week, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER JULY  FIRST,  TWO
 THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX  SUCH  PAYMENT  SHALL  BE  FIVE  HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX
 DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK;
   3. If the percentage of loss of earning capacity  is  twenty-five  per
 centum,  or greater, but less than fifty per centum, [he] SUCH VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER shall be paid [thirty] TWO HUNDRED dollars for each week;
   4. If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is less than  twenty-
 five  per  centum, [he or she] SUCH VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER shall [not] be
 paid [any weekly benefit.   Permanent  partial  disability,  within  the
 meaning  of  this paragraph, shall exist only if the earning capacity of
 the volunteer firefighter has been permanently and partially lost as the
 result of the injury. The workers' compensation  board  shall  determine
 the  degree of such disability and such board may reconsider such degree
 on its own motion or upon application of any party  in  interest]  FIFTY
 DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK.
   §  4.  Section  8  of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, as
 amended by chapter 401 of the laws  of  2016,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   §  8.  Permanent total disability benefits. In the case of total disa-
 bility adjudged to be permanent the volunteer ambulance worker shall  be
 paid  [six]  NINE  hundred  dollars for each week during the continuance
 thereof. Permanent total disability, within the meaning of this section,
 shall exist only if the earning  capacity  of  the  volunteer  ambulance
 worker  has been lost permanently and totally as the result of the inju-
 ry. The loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or
 both eyes, or any two thereof, shall, in the absence of conclusive proof
 to the contrary, constitute permanent total disability, but in all other
 cases permanent total disability shall be determined in accordance  with
 the  facts.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provisions of this chapter, an
 injured volunteer ambulance worker disabled due to  the  loss  or  total
 loss  of use of both eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or
 both legs, or any two thereof shall not suffer any  diminution  of  such
 weekly  benefit  by  engaging in business or employment provided [his or
 her] SUCH VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER  weekly  earnings  or  wages,  when
 combined with [his] THEIR weekly benefit shall not be in excess of eight
 hundred  dollars;  and  further  provided  that  the application of this
 section shall not result in  reduction  of  benefits  which  an  injured
 volunteer ambulance worker who is disabled due to the loss or total loss
 of  use of both eyes, or both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both
 legs, or any two thereof would otherwise be entitled to under any  other
 provisions of this article.
   §  5.  Section  9  of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, as
 amended by chapter 523 of the laws  of  2021,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   § 9. Temporary  total  disability  benefits.  In the case of temporary
 total disability the volunteer ambulance  worker  shall  be  paid  three
 hundred  dollars for each week during the continuance thereof; provided,
 however, that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line
 of duty on or after the effective date of this chapter to  June  thirti-
 eth,  nineteen hundred ninety; further provided, that when the volunteer
 ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on or after July  first,
 nineteen  hundred ninety to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one,
 said ambulance worker shall receive three hundred forty dollars per week
 during the continuance thereof, and further provided, that when a volun-
 A. 1849                             6
 
 teer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on  or  after  July
 first,  nineteen  hundred ninety-one to June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 ninety-two, said ambulance worker  shall  receive  three  hundred  fifty
 dollars  per  week during the continuance thereof; provided further that
 when a volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty  on  or
 after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred ninety-two to June thirtieth, two
 thousand twenty-one, such ambulance worker shall be  paid  four  hundred
 dollars  for  each week during the continuance thereof; provided further
 that when a volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on
 or after July first, two thousand  twenty-one  TO  JUNE  THIRTIETH,  TWO
 THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX  such  ambulance  worker  shall be paid six hundred
 fifty dollars for each week during  the  continuance  thereof;  PROVIDED
 FURTHER THAT WHEN A VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF
 DUTY  ON  OR  AFTER  JULY  FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX SUCH AMBULANCE
 WORKER SHALL BE PAID NINE HUNDRED  DOLLARS  FOR  EACH  WEEK  DURING  THE
 CONTINUANCE  THEREOF.  Temporary total disability, within the meaning of
 this section, shall exist only if the earning capacity of the  volunteer
 ambulance  worker has been lost temporarily and totally as the result of
 the injury. In case of temporary total disability and permanent  partial
 disability  both  resulting from the same injury, if the temporary total
 disability continues for a longer period than the number  of  weeks  set
 forth in the following schedule, the period of temporary total disabili-
 ty  in  excess  of  such  number  of  weeks shall be added to the period
 provided in section ten of this chapter:  arm,  thirty-two  weeks;  leg,
 forty  weeks; hand, thirty-two weeks; foot, thirty-two weeks; ear, twen-
 ty-five weeks;  eye,  twenty  weeks;  thumb,  twenty-four  weeks;  first
 finger,  eighteen  weeks; great toe, twelve weeks; second finger, twelve
 weeks; third finger, eight weeks, fourth finger, eight weeks; toe  other
 than  great  toe,  eight weeks. In any case resulting in loss or partial
 loss of use of arm, leg, hand, foot, ear, eye,  thumb,  finger  or  toe,
 where  the temporary total disability does not extend beyond the periods
 above mentioned for such injury, benefits shall be limited to the sched-
 ule contained in section ten of this chapter.
   § 6. The opening paragraph and paragraph g of subdivision 1 of section
 10 of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law,  the  opening  para-
 graph  as  amended  by  chapter  21  of the laws of 1991, paragraph g as
 amended by chapter 604 of the laws of 1989 and subparagraphs 1 and 2  of
 paragraph  g  as amended by chapter 924 of the laws of 1990, are amended
 to read as follows:
   In the case of disability partial in character, but permanent in qual-
 ity, the volunteer ambulance worker, injured in the line of  duty  shall
 be paid one hundred fifty dollars for each week for the period specified
 in  this  subdivision,  provided, however, that when the volunteer ambu-
 lance worker is injured in the line of duty on or  after  the  effective
 date  of  this chapter to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred
 ninety, and provided further that when the volunteer ambulance worker is
 injured in the line of duty on or after  July  first,  nineteen  hundred
 ninety to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one such
 payments shall be two hundred eighty dollars for each week, and provided
 further  that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line
 of duty on or after July  first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-one  to  and
 including  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-two such payments
 shall be three hundred fifty dollars for each week; and provided further
 that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the line of  duty
 on  or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two such payments shall
 be four hundred dollars for each week; AND PROVIDED  FURTHER  THAT  WHEN
 A. 1849                             7
 
 THE  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE  WORKER  IS  INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR
 AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX SUCH PAYMENTS  SHALL  BE  NINE
 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK as follows:
   g. Other cases. In all other cases of permanent partial disability the
 volunteer  ambulance  worker  shall  be  paid  for each week, during the
 continuance thereof, as follows:
   (1) If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is seventy-five  per
 centum, or greater, [he or she] SUCH VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER shall be
 paid  one  hundred  fifty dollars for each week, provided, however, that
 the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the  line  of  duty  on  or
 after  the  effective date of this chapter to and including June thirti-
 eth, nineteen hundred ninety, provided, however, that when the volunteer
 ambulance worker is injured in the line of duty on or after July  first,
 nineteen  hundred  ninety  to  and  including  June  thirtieth, nineteen
 hundred ninety-one such payment shall be two hundred eighty dollars  for
 each week, and provided further that when the volunteer ambulance worker
 is  injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred
 ninety-one to and including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred  ninety-two
 such  payment  shall  be  three hundred fifty dollars for each week; and
 provided further that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured  in
 the  line  of  duty  on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two
 such payments shall be four hundred dollars for each week; AND  PROVIDED
 FURTHER  THAT WHEN THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER IS INJURED IN THE LINE
 OF DUTY ON OR AFTER JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX,  SUCH  PAYMENTS
 SHALL BE NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH WEEK.
   (2) If the percentage of loss of earning capacity is fifty per centum,
 or  greater,  but  less  than  seventy-five per centum, [he or she] SUCH
 VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER shall be paid one hundred  dollars  for  each
 week,  provided, however, that the volunteer ambulance worker is injured
 in the line of duty on or after the effective date of  this  chapter  to
 and  including June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety, provided, howev-
 er, that when the volunteer ambulance worker is injured in the  line  of
 duty  on  or  after July first, nineteen hundred ninety to and including
 June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-one, such payment shall  be  one
 hundred   eighty-six  dollars  and  seventy-six  cents  for  each  week,
 provided, however, that when the volunteer ambulance worker  is  injured
 in  the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety-one
 to and including  June  thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-two,  such
 payment  shall  be  two  hundred thirty-four dollars and fifty cents for
 each week; provided, however, that when the volunteer  ambulance  worker
 is  injured in the line of duty on or after July first, nineteen hundred
 ninety-two, such payment shall be two hundred  sixty-eight  dollars  for
 each  week;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHEN THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER
 IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON OR  AFTER  JULY  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND
 TWENTY-SIX,  SUCH  PAYMENT  SHALL BE FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX DOLLARS FOR
 EACH WEEK.
   (3) If the percentage of  loss  of  earning  capacity  is  twenty-five
 percentum,  or greater, but less than fifty per centum, [he or she] SUCH
 VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER shall be paid [thirty]  TWO  HUNDRED  dollars
 for each week.
   (4)  If  the percentage of loss of earning capacity is less than twen-
 ty-five per centum, [he or she] SUCH VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE  WORKER  shall
 [not] be paid [any weekly benefit] FIFTY DOLLARS PER WEEK.
   Permanent  partial  disability,  within the meaning of this paragraph,
 shall exist only if the earning  capacity  of  the  volunteer  ambulance
 worker  has  been  permanently  and  partially lost as the result of the
 A. 1849                             8
 
 injury. The workers' compensation board shall determine  the  degree  of
 such  disability  and  such  board may reconsider such degree on its own
 motion or upon application of any party in interest.
   § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.