S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7918--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAHER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Local Governments -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend chapter 636 of the laws of 1995 relating to incorporat-
ing the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association of
Coldenham Inc., and providing for its powers and duties, in relation
to the purposes and duties of such corporation and the use of foreign
fire insurance premium taxes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Sections 1, 2, 3 and 7 of chapter 636 of the laws of 1995
relating to incorporating the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent
Association of Coldenham Inc., and providing for its powers and duties,
are amended to read as follows:
Section 1. Incorporation; membership. A not-for-profit corporation by
the name of the Volunteer and Exempt [Firemen's] FIREFIGHTER'S Benevo-
lent Association of Coldenham, Inc., is hereby created. It shall be
composed of such persons eligible to membership therein as hereinafter
provided as shall (a) notify the secretary of the Volunteer [Firemen's]
FIREFIGHTER'S Benevolent Association of Coldenham, Inc., in writing
prior to the organization meeting of such corporation hereinafter
provided for of their desire to become members, or (b) shall attend such
meeting or an adjournment thereof, and also such persons so eligible as
may become members of such corporation, pursuant to its by-laws.
§ 2. Persons eligible to membership. All persons who are now or have
been, or hereafter shall be active volunteer members of the fire company
or corporation of Coldenham and who have heretofore acquired or shall
hereafter acquire the status of exempt volunteer [firemen] FIREFIGHTER
as defined in section 200 of the general municipal law or any other
applicable law by virtue of having rendered service in said fire corpo-
ration or fire company in such district, and all persons who are now or
hereafter shall be active volunteer members of said fire company or
corporation shall be eligible for membership in the corporation hereby
created; provided that any person who has been expelled or removed for
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10688-02-5
A. 7918--A 2
cause from membership in any fire department or company shall not be
eligible to membership in such corporation. The membership of any person
in such corporation shall terminate when [his] THEIR membership as an
active volunteer member of the fire company or corporation of Coldenham
shall terminate before such persons shall have acquired the status of
exempt volunteer [firemen] FIREFIGHTER as defined in section 200 of the
general municipal law by virtue of having rendered services to such fire
company or corporation.
§ 3. Purposes. The purposes of [such corporation shall be the mainte-
nance of suitable headquarters for, and the promotion of friendly asso-
ciation for the betterment of the members of such corporation and their
relations with the community, for the promotion of fraternal intercourse
among the members of such corporation, to study and disseminate among
the members of such corporation the most efficient manner of fighting
fire, the relief, aid and assistance of such members and their families
who are disabled or indigent and to acquire real and personal property
such as may be necessary for the purposes herein set forth and the
promotion of the welfare of the volunteer fire service within the terri-
tory now served or which may hereafter be served by the fire company or
corporation of Coldenham] THE CORPORATION CREATED BY THIS ACT SHALL BE:
(A) TO PROVIDE RELIEF, AID AND ASSISTANCE TO THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF
SUCH CORPORATION WHO ARE DISABLED, INDIGENT OR INJURED IN THE PERFORM-
ANCE OF SUCH MEMBERS' DUTIES, AND SUCH MEMBERS' FAMILIES; (B) TO PROMOTE
AND SAFEGUARD THE WELFARE OF THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF SUCH CORPORATION,
AND SUCH MEMBERS' FAMILIES; (C) TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF THE CORPORATION; (D) TO MAINTAIN A SUITABLE
HEADQUARTERS FOR THE MEMBERS OF SUCH CORPORATION; (E) TO ENHANCE THE
MORALE OF THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF SUCH CORPORATION BY PROVIDING SOCIAL
AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF SUCH CORPO-
RATION; AND (F) THE PROMOTION OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE WITHIN THE
TERRITORY PROTECTED BY SUCH COLDENHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT.
§ 7. Precept for payment of foreign fire insurance premium taxes. Such
corporation shall collect and there shall be paid to it all taxes
imposed by section 9104 of the insurance law for fire department use and
benefit upon premiums for insurance against loss or damage by fire
covering property situated within the Coldenham fire district within the
towns of Newburgh and Montgomery located in Orange county, New York. The
officers of said corporation designated by its by-laws to collect and
receive the aforesaid tax shall have all the powers and be subject to
all the provisions of the insurance law, relating to treasurers of fire
departments. Such corporation shall also be entitled to receive a share
of the tax distributed pursuant to the provisions of section 9105 of the
insurance law, based upon the business written in the territory with
respect to which it is entitled to collect and receive the tax under
section 9104 of the insurance law. Such taxes shall only be used [for
the care and relief of indigent volunteer and exempt firefighters and
their families] BY THE CORPORATION IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS PURPOSES AS SET
FORTH IN SECTION THREE OF THIS ACT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
the amendments to section 7 of chapter 636 of the laws of 1995 relating
to incorporating the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Associ-
ation of Coldenham Inc., and providing for its powers and duties made by
section one of this act shall apply to taxes due on premiums received on
and after January 1, 2026.