Establishes a thirty-year retirement benefit for correction officers of the Westchester county correction department.
Summary
S05761 amends the Retirement and Social Security Law to create a new retirement option for correction officers of the Westchester County Correction Department. Under the bill, eligible members could retire after 30 years of service with a pension equal to 60% of final average salary, while preserving the existing 25-year retirement benefit at 50% of final average salary. The bill also updates related provisions to reflect the new 30-year tier and clarifies that the retirement allowance calculations apply to members retiring after either 25 or 30 years of service.
The measure is limited to Westchester County correction officers covered by the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System. It also specifies that prior service costs must be paid by Westchester County, with the option to amortize those costs over 10 years, and states that the bill takes effect immediately and applies to members retiring on or after that date. The fiscal note estimates increased annual county contributions and a one-time past service cost, indicating a direct local fiscal impact rather than a statewide change in benefit structure.
Impact
The bill would amend sections 89-e and 604 of the Retirement and Social Security Law to add a 30-year retirement benefit for a narrow class of public employees: Westchester County correction officers. It changes the retirement formula for those officers so that retirement after 30 years yields a 60% final average salary benefit, while maintaining the existing 25-year, 50% benefit. The bill also requires Westchester County to bear the associated past service costs and allows those costs to be amortized over 10 years, shifting the financial burden to the county rather than the state retirement system.
Sentiment
The committee voting history shows consistent support, with unanimous committee approval in both recorded votes (7-0 in May 2025 and 6-0 in February 2026). That suggests the bill was viewed favorably by the Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee and did not generate recorded opposition at the committee level. The absence of transcript discussion limits insight into broader debate, but the voting pattern indicates strong consensus around the proposal.
Contention
The main policy issue is the added cost of the enhanced retirement benefit and who should pay for it. The bill resolves that question by assigning all past service costs to Westchester County, which may reduce state-level fiscal concerns but increases county obligations. Another potential point of contention is whether correction officers should receive a more generous 30-year retirement tier in addition to the existing 25-year benefit, though the committee votes suggest that any such concerns did not translate into recorded opposition.
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.
Provides for certain death benefits to correction officers, correction officer-sergeants, correction officer-captains, assistant wardens, associate wardens or wardens employed by Orange county.