Authorizes Michael J. Cappiello to purchase service credit for service with the Long Island Railroad Company police department prior to its merger with the MTA and the state retirement system.
Summary
This bill is a private pension-credit authorization for Michael J. Cappiello, a former member of the Long Island Railroad Company police department and current member of the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System. It allows him, within one year of the act’s effective date, to apply to purchase up to three years of service credit for his prior railroad police service. To do so, he must file a written request and pay a contribution equal to three percent of his compensation for the 12 months immediately preceding the application, multiplied by the number of years of credit claimed.
The measure is narrowly tailored to a single individual and does not create a general class of eligible purchasers. It also specifies that any past service costs associated with the benefit will be paid by the State of New York, while the fiscal note indicates that Suffolk County’s annual contributions would not increase. The bill takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill amends the practical application of retirement credit rules for the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System by creating a special, one-time pathway for a named individual to buy service credit for prior police employment with the Long Island Railroad Company. It affects retirement benefit calculations and service credit accumulation, but only for this specific member, rather than changing statewide eligibility rules for all public employees. The fiscal note estimates a total past service cost of about $100,000, with approximately $13,900 paid by the member and about $86,100 borne by the state as a one-time cost.
Sentiment
The available record suggests little overt controversy or debate around the bill. The measure appears to have been handled as a technical, individualized retirement benefit adjustment, and the fiscal note frames the cost as limited and manageable. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the overall sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s narrow scope and the absence of visible opposition: it appears generally favorable or at least uncontentious.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of a special law to grant retirement credit to a named individual, which can raise fairness or precedent concerns because it provides a benefit not available through ordinary general law. A second possible issue is fiscal responsibility, since the state—not the local employer—would bear the bulk of the past service cost. However, the bill text and fiscal note indicate that the cost is one-time and limited, and no specific opposition is documented in the materials provided.
Same As
Authorizes Michael J. Cappiello to purchase service credit for service with the Long Island Railroad Company police department prior to its merger with the MTA and the state retirement system.