New York Assembly Bill A10370

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/3/26
• Refer: 3/3/26

Caption

Relates to the retirement of county and municipal airport firefighters

Summary

This bill creates a new optional retirement plan for certain county and municipal airport firefighters and similar titles responsible for aircraft rescue and firefighting services at airports. If an employer elects to participate, eligible members could retire after 25 years of total creditable service and receive a retirement allowance equal to one-half of final average salary, with additional service beyond 25 years increasing the benefit by one-sixtieth of final average salary per year, up to a maximum of three-fourths of final average salary. The bill also allows certain prior service, including specified public safety service and wartime military service, to count toward the 25-year total in defined circumstances. The bill amends the Retirement and Social Security Law to add a new section specifically for airport firefighters, and it also updates existing retirement provisions to recognize this new category as eligible for age- and service-based retirement rules. It further provides that members covered by Article 14 may make an irrevocable election to switch into the new benefit structure within one year of employer election or employment, and it requires employers that opt in to bear all associated past service costs and ongoing contribution costs. The act would take effect on January 1 following enactment. The fiscal note indicates the proposal would increase employer contribution rates for participating counties or municipalities by an estimated 5% of salary for affected members, plus a one-time past service cost averaging about 50% of salary, along with additional administrative costs. Because participation is optional, the bill’s practical effect depends on whether individual local governments choose to adopt the benefit and file the required resolution with the Comptroller. Overall, the available context suggests a generally supportive policy goal of aligning airport firefighters with other public safety occupations that have special retirement treatment. There were no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no documented opposition or debate in the record here. The main point of potential contention is fiscal: the bill shifts substantial costs to electing employers, which may make adoption less attractive for some counties or municipalities.

Impact

The bill would add a new section 89-z to the Retirement and Social Security Law and conform related retirement provisions to include county and municipal airport firefighters as a distinct occupational group eligible for a 25-year retirement plan. It would also amend sections 445, 603, and 604 to integrate this new category into existing retirement eligibility and benefit formulas, while preserving the optional nature of the benefit for local employers. Employers that elect coverage would be responsible for all past service and ongoing costs, and the bill would affect airport firefighting personnel, county and municipal employers, and the New York State and Local Retirement System administration.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have a favorable policy orientation, aiming to extend special retirement treatment to airport firefighters who perform hazardous public safety duties similar to other firefighter classifications. No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from legislators in the record. The fiscal note, however, signals that the proposal could be costly for participating employers, suggesting that local fiscal concerns may be the primary source of hesitation.

Contention

The principal point of contention is cost. The bill requires any county or municipality that elects the benefit to pay both the ongoing employer contribution increase and the full past service cost, which the fiscal note estimates could be significant. Another possible issue is scope: the bill covers airport firefighters and similar titles, and the Comptroller is given authority to determine which positions qualify, which could raise classification questions for employers and retirement administrators. Because participation is optional, debate may center less on whether the benefit is appropriate and more on whether local governments can afford to adopt it.