NY A09614

Requires paid firefighters in cities with populations under one million, towns, villages, and fire districts who are represented by a certified employee organization to have disciplinary hearings conducted by an independent hearing officer mutually agreed upon by the employer and employee.

Establishes a selection process where if parties cannot agree on a hearing officer, one must be selected from a list of seven names provided by the Public Employment Relations Board through alternating strikes of names.

Vests the independent hearing officer with all powers of the appointing authority to conduct hearings, make records, and render final decisions on disciplinary matters.

Requires costs of the independent hearing officer to be divided equally between parties, with the hearing officer authorized to allocate costs based on frivolous claims or defenses made in bad faith without reasonable basis in law or fact.

Allows firefighters to elect in writing to proceed under existing statutory disciplinary procedures in subdivision two of section 75 instead of utilizing the independent hearing officer process.