Authorizes Kurt Nolan to receive certain credit under sections 384-d and 384-e of the retirement and social security law
Summary
This bill is a private pension-credit measure for a named individual, Kurt Nolan. It authorizes him to receive retirement service credit under sections 384-d and 384-e of the Retirement and Social Security Law for prior public safety employment that occurred from June 2010 through May 2021, including service as a deputy sheriff with Saratoga County and as a university police inspector and university police officer with New York State University Police. The bill states that the failure to grant this credit was not attributable to Nolan’s own negligence, and it allows him to file a request with the State Comptroller within one year of the act’s effective date to obtain the credit and associated benefits.
The bill also specifies that all past service costs associated with implementing the credit will be paid by the State of New York, and it takes effect immediately. The accompanying fiscal note estimates a one-time past service cost of about $202,000 to the state, while indicating that the bill would not increase the Village of Ballston Spa’s annual contributions. In practical terms, the measure would expand Nolan’s pensionable service under the police and fire retirement system and potentially increase his retirement benefits by recognizing the omitted years of service.
Impact
The bill amends the application of the Retirement and Social Security Law only for this individual case, effectively creating a special authorization for Kurt Nolan to receive service credit under RSSL sections 384-d and 384-e for prior covered employment. It does not broadly change eligibility rules for other members, but it does direct the State Comptroller to accept a request for credit and shifts the full past service cost to the state treasury rather than to the local employer. The bill therefore affects the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System and the state’s fiscal obligations, while leaving the Village of Ballston Spa’s contribution rate unchanged.
Sentiment
The available record suggests a generally favorable or uncontroversial posture toward the bill, though no committee transcript or vote tally is provided. The measure appears to be a remedial pension bill intended to correct an omission in service credit for a public safety employee, which typically draws support when the facts show the employee was not at fault. The fiscal note frames the cost as limited and one-time, which may also reduce opposition.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of a special, individual-specific pension benefit, which can raise fairness and precedent concerns because it grants relief to one named member rather than changing the law uniformly. Another possible issue is the state’s assumption of the full past service cost, estimated at $202,000, although the fiscal note indicates no added annual cost to the local employer. No direct opposition, debate, or recorded vote is included in the provided materials, so any contention is inferred from the structure of the bill rather than from documented objections.
Same As
Authorizes Kurt Nolan to receive certain credit under sections 384-d and 384-e of the retirement and social security law for prior employment at the Saratoga county sheriff's office and the New York state university police.