New York Senate Bill S04686

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/11/25
• Refer: 2/11/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes Kim Bowers to receive certain service credit with the New York state and local employees' retirement system for her employment with the town of Orchard Park Zoning Board of Appeals.

Summary

This bill is a private retirement-credit authorization for Kim Bowers. It deems her to have joined the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System (NYSLERS) on January 1, 2006, for the period during which she served as a member of the Town of Orchard Park Zoning Board of Appeals, provided she files a written request with the State Comptroller within one year of the act’s effective date. The bill applies notwithstanding contrary law and is intended to correct a failure to enroll in the retirement system that was not attributable to her own negligence. The measure also specifies that no member contributions already made by Bowers will be refunded, and it assigns all past service costs of the benefit adjustment to the Town of Orchard Park. The act takes effect immediately. According to the fiscal note, the practical effect is to grant Bowers Tier 4 status in NYSLERS by moving her membership date back to 2006, even though she is currently a Tier 6 member through her employment with the Erie County Water Authority.

Impact

The bill would create a narrow, individualized exception to existing retirement-system membership rules by retroactively adjusting one member’s date of membership in NYSLERS. It would affect retirement benefit calculations, service credit, and employer contribution obligations, while leaving member contributions unreimbursed. The Town of Orchard Park would be responsible for the past service cost, and the Erie County Water Authority would see a modest increase in annual contributions beginning in fiscal year 2027, according to the fiscal note.

Sentiment

The available record suggests generally favorable or noncontroversial treatment, but the bill’s history is limited and no committee transcript or vote record is provided. The bill was introduced, recommitted, amended, and reprinted, which indicates it moved through the legislative process as a technical or corrective pension measure rather than a broad policy debate. The fiscal note frames the financial impact as limited and quantifiable, which is typical of individualized retirement-credit bills.

Contention

The main issue likely to draw attention is the retroactive conferral of enhanced retirement status for a single individual, which can raise fairness and precedent concerns in pension legislation. Any objection would likely focus on the cost shift to the Town of Orchard Park and the fact that the bill overrides ordinary membership rules to grant service credit despite the missed enrollment. No explicit opposition, recorded debate, or vote split is included in the materials provided.