File #: T2025-4029    Version: * Name: PFAS screening program for firefighters.
Type: Introduction Status: Introduced
Committee: Committee on Fire and Emergency Management
On agenda: 11/12/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a PFAS screening program for firefighters
Sponsors: Joann Ariola
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS,” are a group of chemicals commonly utilized in consumer products, that have been linked to increased risk of negative health outcomes. This bill would require the fire department and the department of health and mental hygiene to establish a program to provide PFAS screenings for firefighters, and report on the results of the program.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No., 2. Int. No.

Int. No.

 

By Council Member Ariola

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a PFAS screening program for firefighters

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 15 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 15-151 to read as follows:

§ 15-151 PFAS chemicals exposure screening. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The term “perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least 1 fluorinated carbon atom.

PFAS chemicals. The term “PFAS chemicals” means any material containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

b. Exposure screenings. 1. The department, in conjunction with the department of health and mental hygiene, shall establish a program to provide screenings for firefighters to detect exposure to PFAS chemicals. Such program shall offer annual screenings for active firefighters and screenings every 2 years for retired firefighters.

2. The program shall include, at minimum:

(a) Blood tests to determine levels of exposure to PFAS chemicals;

(b) Screenings for cancers linked to PFAS chemical exposure;

(c) Kidney, liver, and thyroid function tests;

(d) Referrals to specialists as appropriate; and

(e) Education on the risks and possible harms of exposure to PFAS chemicals, to the extent those risks and harms are known.

c. Reporting. No later than 1 year after the effective date of the local law that added this section, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and post on the department’s website, a report regarding the PFAS chemicals screening program created by this section. Such report shall include, at minimum, the following:

1. The number of active duty and retired firefighters who have used the program;

2. The number of active duty and retired firefighters who are shown to have elevated levels of PFAS chemicals in their bloodstream, as compared to a resident who is not an active duty or retired firefighter; and

3. The number of active duty and retired firefighters who have diagnosed health issues that can be linked to exposure to PFAS chemicals as a result of their employment as a firefighter.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

NAW / HK

LS #19891

08/15/2025 11:50 am