Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.
Summary
This bill amends the New York retirement and social security law to create a special death benefit for certain Orange County correction personnel, including correction officers, sergeants, captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens, and wardens. If an eligible member dies on or after the bill’s effective date while already service-retirement eligible, the beneficiary may elect to receive a lump-sum payment equal to the pension reserve that would have been established had the member retired on the date of death, or the existing death benefit plus any reserve-for-increased-take-home-pay, whichever is greater.
The measure is narrowly targeted to Orange County and applies only to the listed correction titles employed there. It also specifies that all past service costs must be paid by Orange County, with the option to amortize those costs over ten years, and exempts the bill from the retirement system’s usual appropriation requirement. The act takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would modify death-benefit rules under the retirement and social security law by adding a new section specific to Orange County correction employees. It would increase the potential benefit payable to beneficiaries of retirement-eligible members who die in service, and it shifts the fiscal responsibility for both ongoing and past service costs to Orange County rather than the state retirement system generally. The fiscal note estimates a modest recurring annual cost to the county and a one-time past service cost, with the option to amortize that amount over ten years.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong support for the bill. It passed the Assembly overwhelmingly and also cleared the Senate floor, with only one recorded nay in the Senate vote. The committee actions were also favorable, indicating broad legislative acceptance of the proposal as a targeted benefit enhancement for a specific group of public employees.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available record, but the main policy issue is fiscal responsibility. The bill places the cost on Orange County, and the actuarial note quantifies both the annual and past service impacts, which may be the primary concern for county officials or budget watchers. Another potential point of contention is the bill’s narrow, county-specific application, which grants a special benefit to a defined group of correction titles in Orange County rather than statewide correction personnel.
Same As
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Westchester county.
Modifying the definition of security officer to include certain juvenile corrections officer positions for purposes of the KPERS correctional employees group.