NY S08481

Requires disciplinary hearings for firefighters in cities under one million population, towns, villages, and fire districts to be conducted by an independent hearing officer mutually agreed upon by the employer and employee, or selected from a list of seven names provided by the Public Employment Relations Board.

Establishes a selection process where parties alternately strike names from the list of seven candidates, with the hearing officer holding all powers of the appointing authority and rendering a final decision.

Divides costs of the independent hearing officer equally between parties, though the hearing officer may reallocate costs based on frivolous claims or defenses made in bad faith without reasonable legal or factual basis.

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

Makes discipline and disciplinary procedures negotiable subjects in collective bargaining for firefighters, and validates all current or expired disciplinary agreements and arbitration awards between public employers and firefighter organizations.