Assemblymember Karen McMahon (D-Amherst/Pendleton) announced that a bill she sponsored to help the Snyder Fire Department recruit new volunteers and support current volunteers has passed the Assembly (A.7432-A). The bill passed the Senate earlier this month and will now be sent to the governor for approval.

“The Snyder Fire Department provides an invaluable service by keeping our community safe,” McMahon said. “We have to do everything we can to support our fire departments, and letting them decide how to best help the department protect our neighbors and loved ones is very important. These brave firefighters voluntarily sacrifice their safety for ours, so we should give them more freedom in how they go about bringing in new members and supporting current volunteers.”

McMahon’s bill would allow the Snyder Fire Department to use its foreign fire insurance premium taxes to enhance morale by providing social and recreational activities for its volunteer members who are disabled or injured in the performance of their duty and their families. The bill would also allow this money to be used to help recruit new volunteers.

Further, the legislation changes the name of the Snyder Volunteer Firemen’s Benevolent Association to the Snyder Volunteer Firefighter’s Benevolent Association. This ensures that the community knows the fire department is inclusive and open to everyone, McMahon noted.