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.
Summary
A07915 is a special, person-specific retirement bill for the City of Binghamton Fire Department. It authorizes the city to extend to firefighter David Edwards an optional retirement plan under subdivision f of section 384 of the Retirement and Social Security Law, which provides a one-sixtieths pension after twenty-five years of total creditable service. The bill applies where the firefighter missed the deadline to elect the plan for reasons not attributable to his own negligence, and it allows him to make the election after the fact if the city and State Comptroller receive the required filings within the stated time limits.
The bill also requires the City of Binghamton to pay all employer past service costs associated with the change, with the option to amortize those costs over ten years. The fiscal note estimates a modest ongoing increase in annual employer contributions and a one-time past service cost, both borne by the city rather than the state retirement system generally. The act takes effect immediately.
Impact
This bill creates a narrow exception to existing retirement law by reopening eligibility for a specific firefighter to join an optional twenty-five-year retirement plan under RSSL section 384(f). It does not broadly amend statewide retirement eligibility rules, but it does authorize the City of Binghamton to file a resolution with the State Comptroller and to confer the associated pension benefits on David Edwards if the statutory conditions are met. The financial impact is local to Binghamton, which must cover the employer past service costs and any increased annual contributions.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received very favorably. It advanced unanimously through the Assembly Governmental Employees, Ways and Means, and Rules Committees, and then passed both the Assembly and Senate floor votes without any recorded opposition. The voting history suggests broad bipartisan support and little controversy in the legislative process.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record, likely because the measure is a narrow corrective bill affecting a single named firefighter rather than a broad policy change. The only substantive issue reflected in the text is fiscal responsibility: the City of Binghamton must absorb the past service cost and ongoing contribution increases. The bill also conditions relief on a finding that the firefighter’s missed election was not due to his own negligence, which is the key eligibility safeguard.
Same As
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.