New York Assembly Bill A08448

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/16/25
• Refer: 5/16/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes Kristin Proud to receive certain service credit with the New York state and local employees' retirement system for her volunteer service beginning March 25, 2020 and ending November 8, 2020.

Summary

A08448 is a narrowly tailored retirement bill that would grant Kristin Proud, a member of the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System and an employee of the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities, full-time service credit for a period of volunteer service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill covers the period from March 25, 2020 through November 8, 2020, when she was recruited by senior staff in the governor’s office to assist the Commissioner of Health as part of New York’s “surge healthcare force.” To receive the credit, she must file a written request with the state comptroller within one year of the act’s effective date. The measure also specifies that any contributions already made by Kristin Proud to the retirement system will not be refunded, and that all past service costs associated with the bill will be paid by the State of New York. The bill takes effect immediately. According to the fiscal note, the estimated one-time past service cost is approximately $20,800, with no expected increase in future annual state contributions. In practical terms, the bill creates an exception to existing retirement law by treating this volunteer pandemic service as credited service in NYSLRS, even though current law generally defines credited service as paid employment with a participating employer. It therefore affects only this individual member’s retirement record and the state’s obligation to fund the added service credit. The overall sentiment appears favorable and noncontroversial based on the available record, though there are no committee transcripts or votes to show debate. The bill is framed as a recognition of pandemic-related public service, and the fiscal impact is modest. The main point of legal tension is that it departs from the usual rule that retirement credit is tied to paid employment, but the bill text itself does not indicate any opposition.

Impact

This bill would amend the application of New York retirement law for a single named individual by authorizing the state comptroller to grant Kristin Proud full-time service credit in the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System for a specified period of volunteer work during the COVID-19 emergency. It creates a special statutory exception to the general rule that credited service is based on paid employment with a participating employer, and it requires the State of New York to bear the full past service cost. The bill does not change retirement rules broadly for other members, but it does establish a precedent for individualized service-credit relief through special legislation.

Sentiment

The available materials suggest a positive or at least supportive sentiment toward the bill. It is presented as a recognition of pandemic-era public service performed at the request of state leadership, and the fiscal note describes a limited, one-time cost with no ongoing budget impact. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes showing opposition, amendment, or controversy, so the public record provided here indicates little visible resistance.

Contention

The principal issue of contention is legal rather than political: the bill grants retirement credit for volunteer service, which is not consistent with the ordinary statutory definition of credited service as paid employment in NYSLRS. That makes the measure an individualized exception to standard retirement rules. Because the bill is narrowly focused on one person and the fiscal impact is relatively small, no broader policy dispute is evident in the materials provided, and there is no recorded committee debate or vote to identify organized opposition.