Provides that a member with credited service in excess of twenty-five years shall receive an additional retirement allowance equal to one-sixtieth of such member's final average salary for each year of creditable service in excess of twenty-five years; makes related provisions.
Summary
This bill amends the New York Retirement and Social Security Law to increase retirement benefits for certain county sheriffs, undersheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and correction officers covered by section 89-p and related provisions. Under current law, eligible members generally receive a retirement allowance equal to one-half of final average salary after 25 years of service. The bill adds an enhanced benefit for service beyond 25 years: for each additional year of creditable service, the member would receive an extra retirement allowance equal to one-sixtieth of final average salary, subject to a maximum pension of three-quarters of final average salary.
The bill also makes a parallel change for the early service retirement benefit under section 604 for members employed in counties that have elected coverage under section 89-p. It specifies that the added benefit applies to qualifying members who retire on or after the bill’s effective date, and it requires the affected county, not the state retirement system generally, to bear all past service costs associated with the change. The bill takes effect immediately and is exempted from the usual appropriation requirement in the retirement law.
Impact
The bill would directly amend two provisions of the Retirement and Social Security Law, expanding pension formulas for a defined group of public safety employees in participating counties. It would increase future retirement liabilities for counties that have elected the section 89-p benefit structure, while preserving the existing 25-year threshold and capping the total benefit at 75% of final average salary. The fiscal note estimates one-time past service costs of about $39.4 million and ongoing annual employer costs of about $7.8 million, affecting 4,552 members across participating counties.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge broad political sentiment. The bill’s sponsor group and the amended text suggest support for improving retirement benefits for sheriffs and correction officers with long service. The fiscal note, however, indicates the measure would impose significant costs on counties, which is the main practical concern reflected in the materials.
Contention
The principal point of contention is fiscal responsibility: the bill shifts all past service costs to the counties that elected the benefit and increases ongoing employer contributions, which may concern county governments and budget officials. Another likely issue is whether the enhanced pension formula should apply only to this specific class of public safety employees and only in counties that opted into the underlying retirement structure. No opposing arguments are recorded in the provided materials, but the cost impact and local funding obligation are the clearest areas where disagreement could arise.
Authorizes Scott Pavlick to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Authorizes David Edwards to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Authorizes Scott Pavlick to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Provides for salary bonuses for members of the uniformed service with the New York city fire department who retire with at least twenty-five, thirty or thirty-five years of service.
Provides for salary bonuses for members of the uniformed service with the New York city fire department who retire with at least twenty-five, thirty or thirty-five years of service.
Provides for salary bonuses for members of the uniformed service with the New York city fire department who retire with at least twenty-five, thirty or thirty-five years of service, including an additional bonus for each year after year twenty-five.
Authorizes David Edwards to receive certain service credit under a twenty-five year retirement plan offering one-sixtieths after twenty-five years of total creditable service for service with the Binghamton Fire Department.
Provides an option for members to receive retirement allowances, without reduction, after twenty (20) years of service upon reaching age fifty-seven (57).