New York Senate Bill S07338

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/10/25
• Refer: 4/10/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes active members of the New York state and local police and fire retirement system to purchase service credit for service with the Long Island Railroad Company police department.

Summary

Bill S07338 allows active members of the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System (NYSLPFRS) to purchase up to three years of service credit for their time as police officers with the Long Island Railroad Company (LIRR) police department. To qualify, members must submit a written request within one year of the bill's effective date and have at least five years of credited service in NYSLPFRS. The cost for this service credit will be calculated at three percent of the member's compensation for each year of service being claimed.

Impact

This bill modifies the existing retirement system by enabling eligible members to enhance their retirement benefits through the purchase of service credit for prior employment with the LIRR police department. This change is expected to have a fiscal impact on the state, as it will bear the costs associated with the past service credit purchased by members. The estimated cost to the state is projected to be 22% of the affected members' compensation for each year of service credit purchased, which will be billed annually.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding Bill S07338 appears to be neutral, as there have been no recorded votes or significant committee discussions available to indicate strong support or opposition. The bill's introduction suggests a recognition of the service provided by LIRR police officers, but without further debate or voting history, the overall sentiment remains unclear.

Contention

There may be potential contention regarding the financial implications of the bill, particularly concerning how the costs will be managed by the state. Stakeholders may have differing views on whether the state should absorb these costs, especially given the uncertainty about the number of members who will take advantage of this provision. However, no specific points of contention have been documented in the available discussions or voting records.