Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics legislation now pending in the state Assembly would exempt volunteer firefighters from serving on juries. The measure was proposed in early November by Democrat Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara amid a shortage of volunteer firefighters statewide as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, making it more difficult to keep volunteer fire companies staffed, especially in rural areas. The measure would match existing similar laws that allow active duty police officers and professional firefighters to file for an exemption from jury duty. “While participating in jury duty is a critical civilian responsibility, it’s important that we put the health and safety of our communities first. I’ve heard from our volunteer departments. The reality is, they are short-staffed as it is, and many of them simply can not afford to lose more members for extended periods of time," Santabarbara said in a statement. Read more at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.