N.Y. General Municipal Law § 72-g: Expenses of volunteer firefighters attending training schools and instruction courses

§ 72-g. Expenses of volunteer firefighters attending training schools

and instruction courses. 1. The chief officer of the fire department of

a municipal corporation or fire district, subject to any rules or

regulations governing such department, may authorize the volunteer

members of the department to attend training schools or courses of

instruction for firefighters.

a. If any such school is located, or any such course is given, outside

the county or outside one of the counties in which the municipal

corporation or fire district is located, such authorization shall be

subject to the prior approval of the governing board of the municipal

corporation or fire district.

b. If any such school is located, or any such course is given, outside

the state, in addition to the approval required in paragraph a of this

subdivision, such authorization shall be subject to a finding from the

governing board that such training course or school of instruction is

necessary and in the public interest and is not available within a

reasonable distance and time period in the state.

c. Notification and proof of attendance of any out-of-state training

school from the chief officer shall be provided to the state office of

fire prevention and control.

2. The governing board by resolution may provide for the payment, in

the same manner as other claims against the municipal corporation or

fire district are audited, allowed and paid, of all actual and necessary

registration fees not in excess of fifty dollars and all actual and

necessary expenses of travel, meals and lodging and all necessary

tuition fees incurred by such volunteer members in attending such a

training school, or course of instruction, in this country or in Canada.

3. If such travel is by car owned by the volunteer firefighter, he or

she may be paid a reasonable mileage allowance for each mile actually

and necessarily traveled by him or her in attending such school or

course of instruction. Such mileage allowance shall not exceed the

standard travel allowance for mileage adopted or prescribed for federal

income tax purposes. Any claim for such expenses or reimbursement shall

have endorsed thereon, or attached thereto, a statement by the chief

officer of the fire department that the attendance had been duly

authorized by him or her. The provisions of this section shall not be

deemed to have amended the provisions of subdivision one of section two

hundred nine of this chapter in relation to participation in fire

training programs which are not conducted as training schools or regular

or special courses of instruction for firefighters.