Increases certain special accidental death benefits for state and local retirement system members.
Summary
A08655 would increase the special accidental death benefit paid to survivors of certain public employees who die as a result of an accident sustained in the performance of duty. The bill amends both the General Municipal Law and the Retirement and Social Security Law to raise the benefit schedule by 3.0 percentage points for deaths occurring before calendar year 2025, and to make the new schedule effective July 1, 2025. In practical terms, it updates the percentage-of-salary formula used to calculate these survivor benefits for eligible widows or widowers, dependent children, and, in some cases, parents.
The bill applies to members of the New York State and local retirement systems, including the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System and the New York City retirement systems and pension funds. It affects survivors of members in covered uniformed public service positions, such as police, fire, sanitation, correction, transit, housing, and related public safety roles. The fiscal notes indicate the change would increase employer contribution costs, with the state and participating local employers sharing the added expense in the state/local system and New York City employers bearing the cost in the city systems.
The general sentiment reflected in the available voting history is strongly favorable. The bill passed the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee, Ways and Means Committee, and Rules Committee unanimously, with no recorded nays in any of those votes. That pattern suggests broad support for enhancing death benefits for families of public employees killed in the line of duty.
The main point of contention is fiscal rather than policy-based. The fiscal notes estimate a permanent increase in employer contributions and identify actuarial costs associated with the benefit enhancement, including higher present-value liabilities and annual contribution impacts. While the bill’s supporters appear to view the change as a continuation of prior annual cost-of-living adjustments to the benefit, the principal issue for legislators and employers is the added pension cost and how it will be funded over time.
Impact
The bill amends section 208-f of the General Municipal Law and section 361-a of the Retirement and Social Security Law to increase the special accidental death benefit formula by 3.0% for eligible deaths before calendar year 2025, effective July 1, 2025. This changes the statutory benefit schedule for survivors of certain deceased public employees and increases the amount payable under the special accidental death benefit provisions. The fiscal impact falls on the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System and the New York City retirement systems, with higher employer contribution rates required to finance the enhanced benefits.
Sentiment
The available committee votes show unanimous support and no opposition, indicating a broadly positive reception. The bill appears to be viewed as a benefit enhancement for families of public servants who die in the line of duty, and the fiscal notes suggest the increase is consistent with prior annual adjustments. There is no transcript evidence of debate or division in the materials provided.
Contention
The primary contention is the cost of the benefit increase. Fiscal notes estimate added liabilities and permanent annual employer contribution costs, which would be shared by the state and local participating employers in the state/local system and by New York City employers in the city systems. Any disagreement would likely center on pension funding, actuarial assumptions, and the long-term budget impact rather than on eligibility or the purpose of the benefit itself.
Increases accidental death benefit for surviving spouse or surviving children of certain PERS members and retirants; provides accidental death benefit to beneficiary of certain PERS and PFRS members and retirants; redefines child.