Senate committees advance Terrence O'Leary after confirmation hearing on homeland security role

Terrence O'Leary, the governor's nominee to lead the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, told a joint Senate Finance and Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committee that he would build on existing hazard-mitigation programs and local partnerships if confirmed.

O'Leary opened by describing his public-safety career — including as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, director of the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, and more than a decade with the division — and said the agency has “been a home to me in large part based upon ... its mission and its people.” He cited the agency's role in responses to incidents including the Chelsea bombing, severe storms and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Committee members pressed O'Leary on several recurring issues for rural and suburban communities. On volunteer recruitment and training, he said the division distributed $87,000,000 in volunteer fire grants and planned to send “25,000,000 more” to departments, credited a training stipend with a 25% rise in entry-level firefighter course completions in its first year, and described a shift to hybrid and off-hours instruction to make classes more accessible. “We train over 87,000 volunteers every single year,” he said, adding the division aims to expand those offerings.

Lawmakers from coastal and lakeside districts asked about climate-driven flooding and flood mitigation. O'Leary said the division has expanded its hazard-mitigation portfolio, conducts after-action reviews, and partners with local emergency managers, the Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies to identify proactive projects rather than simply rebuilding to previous conditions. He also said the state purchased and provided $20,000,000 in flood-mitigation equipment to counties under memoranda of understanding to support local response.

On rural emergency medical services, O'Leary clarified the division's limits: EMS regulation falls under the Department of Health, he said, so the division's role is to facilitate conversations and fill gaps where possible rather than set medical licensing or CON policy. He noted the division administers federal grants for border security — citing Operation Stone Garden — but said it does not deploy armed agents.

Several senators raised concerns about grant accessibility and program design. One lawmaker said hundreds of grant applications were submitted last year, questioned a budget-year reduction to a $25,000,000 fire funding line, and asked why an annual $1,500,000 transfer to the emergency services revolving loan fund remains suspended. O'Leary said the division revised the application after the first round, expanded messaging to reach new audiences, and is willing to discuss further changes to lower administrative barriers for volunteer departments.

Members also pressed O'Leary on consolidation of volunteer fire companies in areas with dwindling membership. He said the division can study and encourage shared-service agreements and has tools to facilitate discussions, but it lacks authority to force mergers or directly pay for consolidations.

The hearing included questions about 9-1-1 interoperability and the distribution of the 9-1-1 surcharge. O'Leary said recent budgets included more than $200,000,000 for counties outside New York City to update PSAPs and fiber connections and described ongoing coordination with local 9-1-1 coordinators.

After questioning concluded, a senator moved the committee to act on the nomination; another senator seconded, and the committee recorded a voice "Aye" with no roll-call record shown in the transcript.

The hearing is expected to move next through the Senate confirmation process. The committee exchange laid out the immediate priorities O'Leary would face if confirmed — improving grant access and training flexibility for volunteer responders, expanding hazard-mitigation planning with local partners, and coordinating flood and 9-1-1 preparedness across state and local agencies.