2006 New York Code - Rights And Privileges Of Exempt Volunteer Firemen.

 
    §  201. Rights and privileges of exempt volunteer firemen. In case any
  city, town  or  village  in  this  state  shall  organize  a  paid  fire
  department  and thereby deprive any volunteer fireman who has faithfully
  actually performed service in the protection of life and property within
  the territory protected by his company of the right to serve a full term
  of five years such fireman shall be entitled to  a  full  and  honorable
  discharge;  and  to all the rights and privileges granted by the laws of
  this state to volunteer firemen, provided, however, that  if  such  paid
  department has been organized since the first day of January in the year
  nineteen  hundred  and  two,  he  shall have so served for a consecutive
  period of at least one year immediately preceding  the  installation  of
  said paid fire department.