Authorizes Sgt. Bethany Kidd to receive certain service credit under a twenty year retirement plan for service with the Seneca Falls Police Department.
Summary
This bill is a private, member-specific retirement measure for Sergeant Bethany Kidd of the Seneca Falls Police Department. It provides that, despite her initial enrollment in the wrong retirement plan, she may receive full service credit under the special twenty-year police retirement plan in section 384-d of the Retirement and Social Security Law, so long as the Town of Seneca Falls elects to assume the added cost and certifies that the error was not caused by her own negligence.
The bill allows the town to file a resolution with the State Comptroller within 180 days of the act’s effective date, and it gives Sgt. Kidd one year to elect coverage under the twenty-year plan. If the election is made, she would receive the rights and benefits associated with that plan for her service beginning February 4, 2014. The bill also requires the town to bear all past service costs, which may be amortized over ten years, and it takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would create a narrow exception to existing retirement law by reopening eligibility for section 384-d service credit for one named police officer, notwithstanding contrary provisions of law. It affects the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System and the Retirement and Social Security Law, but only as applied to Sgt. Bethany Kidd and only if the Town of Seneca Falls opts in and pays the associated costs. The fiscal note estimates increased annual employer contributions and a one-time past service cost to the town, with the option to amortize that cost over a decade.
Sentiment
The available record suggests the bill is administrative and remedial in nature, aimed at correcting an enrollment error rather than changing policy broadly. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented public debate in the materials beyond the bill text and fiscal note. The overall posture appears favorable or at least noncontroversial, since the measure is framed as a correction for an individual officer and includes local fiscal responsibility safeguards.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is financial responsibility: the Town of Seneca Falls must choose to assume the additional cost, including a significant past service liability, before the officer can receive the enhanced retirement credit. Another possible issue is the bill’s individualized nature, since it grants relief to a single named employee rather than establishing a general rule, which can sometimes raise fairness or precedent concerns. The bill addresses those concerns by requiring a certification that the officer did not cause the problem through her own negligence.
Same As
Authorizes Sgt. Bethany Kidd to receive certain service credit under a twenty year retirement plan for service with the Seneca Falls Police Department.
Authorizes Sgt. Bethany Kidd to receive certain service credit under a twenty year retirement plan for service with the Seneca Falls Police Department.
Authorizes Melissa Baker to receive certain service credit under a twenty year retirement plan for service with the village of Blasdell Police Department.
Authorizes Scott Pavlick to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Authorizes Scott Pavlick to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Authorizes David Edwards to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Provides that a member with credited service in excess of twenty-five years shall receive an additional retirement allowance equal to one-sixtieth of such member's final average salary for each year of creditable service in excess of twenty-five years; makes related provisions.