N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 201

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