Grants retroactive membership with Tier IV status in the New York state and local employees' retirement system to William Kerr.
Summary
This bill grants retroactive membership in the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System (NYSLERS) to William Kerr, based on his original employment start date of August 24, 1984 with the village of Cooperstown. Although he is currently a member of the system, the bill deems him to have been a member from the date he first became eligible, and it assigns him Tier IV status. The retroactive membership is conditioned on filing an application with the head of the retirement system within one year of the bill’s effective date.
The bill also specifies that Kerr will not receive a refund of any employee contributions he already made to the retirement system. Instead, the past service cost created by the retroactive adjustment must be paid by the village of Cooperstown. The act takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would amend the application of retirement membership rules for a single individual by creating a special retroactive service credit and Tier IV classification in NYSLERS. It does not broadly change statewide retirement law, but it would require the retirement system to recognize an earlier membership date for Kerr and adjust benefits and employer contribution obligations accordingly. The fiscal note estimates increased annual employer contributions beginning in fiscal year 2027 and a one-time past service cost borne by the village of Cooperstown.
Sentiment
The available materials suggest the bill is a private relief measure with a straightforward, favorable purpose: correcting an alleged failure to enroll an eligible employee when he first qualified. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided context, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or debate. The fiscal note indicates the measure was analyzed as a localized pension adjustment rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is fiscal responsibility: the bill shifts the past service cost to the village of Cooperstown and increases future employer contributions, which may matter to the local employer even though the benefit is limited to one person. Another possible issue is the precedent of granting retroactive Tier IV status through special legislation, since such bills can be viewed as exceptions to ordinary retirement-system rules. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.
Grants retroactive membership with Tier IV status in the New York state and local employees' retirement system to Brian Landers, for his employment with the village of Lindenhurst which commenced June 19, 2006.