Grants Nassau county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals or chief fire marshals pension benefits for service rendered beyond twenty-five years.
Summary
A05868 would change the retirement benefit formula for certain Nassau County fire marshal titles in the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System. Under current law, these members receive an early service retirement benefit equal to one-half of final average salary after 25 years of creditable service. The bill would preserve that 25-year threshold but allow additional retirement credit for service beyond 25 years, including non-fire marshal county service, at a rate of one-sixtieth of final average salary for each additional year, while keeping the benefit capped at one-half of final average salary.
The bill also specifies that the county of Nassau must bear all past service costs associated with the change, with the option to amortize those costs over 10 years, and it exempts the measure from the appropriation requirement in the retirement and social security law. The fiscal note estimates a one-time past service cost of about $910,000 and an ongoing annual cost increase to Nassau County, beginning at roughly $59,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and averaging about 0.8% of salary annually thereafter.
Impact
The bill amends section 604 of the retirement and social security law to create a more favorable pension calculation for a narrow group of Nassau County fire marshal positions, including county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals, chief fire marshals, and division supervising fire marshals. It would affect retirement benefits for members in those titles by crediting post-25-year service differently and by allowing non-fire marshal county service to count toward the enhanced benefit formula. The measure shifts the financial responsibility for the change to Nassau County rather than the state retirement system, with the county responsible for both ongoing contributions and past service costs.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill in committee, with unanimous favorable votes in both the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Assembly Rules Committee. No committee transcripts were provided, but the absence of recorded opposition and the unanimous committee votes indicate a generally positive reception. The bill appears to be viewed as a targeted pension enhancement for a specific group of county public safety employees.
Contention
The main point of contention is fiscal rather than policy-based: the bill increases pension obligations for Nassau County, including an immediate past service cost and higher annual contributions. Because the benefit applies only to a limited set of Nassau County fire marshal titles, any debate is likely to center on the cost to the county, the fairness of granting enhanced retirement treatment to this group, and whether additional service credit for non-fire marshal county service is appropriate. The bill’s exemption from the appropriation requirement may also be notable, as it removes a procedural safeguard that otherwise could affect implementation.
Same As
Grants Nassau county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals or chief fire marshals pension benefits for service rendered beyond twenty-five years.
Grants Nassau county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals or chief fire marshals pension benefits for service rendered beyond twenty-five years.
Grants Nassau county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals or chief fire marshals pension benefits for service rendered beyond twenty-five years.
Grants Nassau county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals or chief fire marshals pension benefits for service rendered beyond twenty-five years.
Provides for certain death benefits to county fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals, assistant fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals, chief fire marshals and division supervising fire marshals employed by Nassau county.
Designates all chief fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals, fire marshal IIs and fire marshal Is employed by the county of Suffolk or a town or village therein as peace officers.