STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 470 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments AN ACT to amend the volunteer firefighters' benefit law, in relation to the cost for legal services in connection with any claim arising under such law The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 47 of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law is 2 amended to read as follows: 3 § 47. Costs and fees. The provisions of section twenty-four of the 4 [workmen's] workers' compensation law shall be applicable as fully as if 5 set forth in this chapter, except that the board shall consider a 6 request from a claimant who has filed a claim to assess the cost for 7 legal services in connection with any claim arising under this chapter 8 upon the insurance carrier to whom the claimant has provided notice, 9 provided, however, that when a determination is made by the board to 10 assess the cost for legal services in connection with any claim arising 11 under this chapter upon the insurance carrier who the claimant has 12 provided notice, the attorney's fee shall be for the total amount calcu- 13 lated on the fee application prescribed by the board and commensurate 14 with the services rendered. 15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 16 it shall have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01296-01-5