Grants retroactive tier IV membership in the New York state and local employees' retirement system to Richard J. Vogt, III.
Summary
This bill is a private pension bill for Richard J. Vogt, III. It would deem him to have become a member of the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System (NYSLRS) effective May 1, 2000, based on his prior full-time employment at SUNY Maritime College, even though he did not enroll at that time through no fault of his own. If he applies within one year of the bill’s effective date, he would be granted Tier IV status in the retirement system and receive the rights and benefits associated with that tier.
The bill also specifies that Vogt would not receive a refund of member contributions, and that all past service costs created by the change would be paid by SUNY Maritime College. The measure takes effect immediately and is narrowly tailored to one individual, rather than changing retirement rules broadly for all public employees.
Impact
The bill would create a one-person exception to existing retirement system rules by retroactively adjusting membership date and tier status for a current New York City Employees’ Retirement System member. It would affect NYSLRS and NYCERS administration by requiring the Comptroller to recognize the earlier membership date if Vogt files the required application, and it would shift the actuarial cost of the benefit enhancement to SUNY Maritime College rather than New York City or the retirement system generally. The fiscal note estimates a modest increase in employer contributions for NYCERS over time, but states the entire cost would be borne by New York City because no reserve transfer is expected from NYSLRS.
Sentiment
The available materials suggest generally favorable or at least noncontroversial treatment of the bill, with no recorded committee transcript debate or votes in the provided context. The bill is framed as a corrective measure for an individual who missed retirement system membership through no fault of his own, which typically draws sympathetic support in private pension legislation. The fiscal note acknowledges a limited cost impact, but the overall financial effect is relatively small and specifically allocated.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the creation of a retroactive, individualized pension benefit that gives one member Tier IV status instead of Tier VI, which results in earlier retirement eligibility, lower employee contribution rates, and a larger benefit. Another possible issue is the fiscal responsibility shift: although the bill says SUNY Maritime College bears past service costs, the fiscal note indicates the cost impact would ultimately fall on New York City because the member has less than 10 years of service and no reserve transfer is expected. No explicit opposition, amendments, or recorded debate are included in the provided materials.