Relates to disability retirement benefits for the presumption of cancer affecting the endocrine and thyroid systems and Parkinson's Disease for certain firefighters.
Summary
A08725 amends the Retirement and Social Security Law to expand disability retirement presumptions for certain airport firefighters and related Division of Military and Naval Affairs personnel. Specifically, it adds cancer affecting the endocrine and thyroid systems, and Parkinson’s disease, to the list of conditions that are presumed to have been incurred in the performance of duty for covered members who passed an entry physical without evidence of those conditions. The bill applies to airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, II, and III, as well as training and safety officers.
The bill also preserves the existing presumptions for heart disease, melanoma, other specified cancers, and lung disease, and it keeps the procedural framework for medical examinations, comptroller review, and disability retirement applications. It makes conforming changes in two sections of the retirement law so that the same benefit rules apply under both the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System and the corresponding retirement provision in the law governing the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. The act would take effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would broaden eligibility for performance-of-duty disability retirement benefits under the state retirement system for a limited group of airport firefighters and safety officers employed by the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. By creating a statutory presumption for endocrine and thyroid cancers and Parkinson’s disease, it shifts the burden to the state to disprove duty-related causation for covered members, which can increase the likelihood of disability retirement awards and related survivor benefits. The fiscal note estimates no material increase in annual state contributions, but does identify a one-time past service cost and some administrative costs.
Sentiment
The available materials suggest a generally favorable or supportive posture toward the bill, as reflected by its advancement through committee and amendment into an A-version. The bill’s purpose is framed as extending presumptive disability protections to a small, defined group of firefighters who may face occupational exposure risks. No recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts are provided, so there is no evidence of organized opposition in the supplied record.
Contention
The main policy issue is the scope of the presumption: the bill expands an already existing occupational disability framework to include endocrine and thyroid cancers and Parkinson’s disease for airport firefighters, which could be viewed as an important worker-protection measure but also as a further expansion of state pension liability. Any concern would likely center on actuarial cost, the evidentiary presumption against the state, and whether the covered titles and diseases are appropriately limited to the affected workforce. The fiscal note suggests the financial impact is modest, which may reduce opposition, but the bill still changes the legal standard for proving duty-related illness.
Same As
Relates to disability retirement benefits for the presumption of cancer affecting the endocrine and thyroid systems and Parkinson's Disease for certain firefighters.
Relates to disability retirement benefits for the presumption of cancer affecting the endocrine and thyroid systems and Parkinson's Disease for certain firefighters.
Provides for a line of duty disability presumption for any condition of impairment of health caused by diseases of the lung, resulting in total or partial disability or death of certain deputy sheriff members of a retirement system in certain cities.
Provides for a line of duty disability presumption for any condition of impairment of health caused by diseases of the lung, resulting in total or partial disability or death of certain deputy sheriff members of a retirement system in certain cities.
Provides for a line of duty disability presumption for any condition of impairment of health caused by diseases of the lung, resulting in total or partial disability or death of certain deputy sheriff members of a retirement system in certain cities.
Provides for a line of duty disability presumption for any condition of impairment of health caused by diseases of the lung, resulting in total or partial disability or death of certain deputy sheriff members of a retirement system in certain cities.