Grants retroactive tier V membership in the New York state and local employees' retirement system to Marca McClenon.
Summary
S10078 is a private pension bill that would grant retroactive Tier V membership in the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System (NYSLRS) to Marca McClenon. The bill states that McClenon, currently a Tier VI member, began part-time employment with the Yorktown Library on March 26, 2012 and, through no fault of her own, did not become a member of NYSLRS when she first became eligible. If she applies to the State Comptroller within one year of the bill’s effective date, she would be deemed to have joined on March 26, 2012 and would receive Tier V status and the rights and benefits associated with that tier.
The bill also specifies that the past service costs of implementing the change must be paid by the Yorktown Library, and that McClenon will not receive a refund of member contributions. The act would take effect immediately. The accompanying fiscal note estimates an ongoing increase in the town of Yorktown’s annual contributions of about $4,600 beginning in fiscal year 2027, plus a one-time past service cost of about $28,600.
The bill’s impact is narrow and individualized: it does not broadly amend retirement law for all employees, but instead creates a special exception for one named employee under NYSLRS. It would alter McClenon’s retirement tier and membership date for purposes of pension eligibility and benefits, while shifting the financial burden of the retroactive benefit to the local employer rather than the state retirement system or the employee.
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no direct legislative debate is available. Based on the bill text and fiscal note, the measure appears to be a technical or corrective pension adjustment rather than a controversial policy change. The available materials suggest a generally administrative purpose, with the main practical concern being the added cost to the Yorktown Library.
The principal point of contention, if any, would likely be the fiscal impact and the precedent of granting a retroactive pension tier change for a single individual. Support would likely rest on the claim that the employee missed enrollment through no fault of her own, while any skepticism would focus on the special treatment and the employer’s obligation to absorb the additional retirement costs.
Impact
S10078 would create a one-person exception to NYSLRS membership rules by deeming Marca McClenon to have joined on March 26, 2012 and granting her Tier V status instead of Tier VI. It would not change the retirement system generally, but it would require the Yorktown Library to pay all past service costs associated with the retroactive adjustment, with no refund of member contributions to McClenon. The fiscal note estimates a one-time past service cost of $28,600 and an ongoing annual contribution increase of about $4,600 beginning in FY 2027.
Sentiment
No committee discussion or votes were provided, so there is no direct record of support or opposition. The bill’s text and fiscal note suggest a largely technical, corrective measure aimed at fixing an enrollment error for a specific employee. The overall tone appears neutral to favorable, with the main practical issue being the cost assigned to the local employer rather than any broader policy dispute.
Contention
The likely point of contention is whether it is appropriate to grant retroactive Tier V membership to a single named employee and to shift the resulting costs to the Yorktown Library. Supporters would emphasize that McClenon allegedly failed to enroll through no fault of her own and should receive the benefits she would have had if properly enrolled. Critics, if any, would likely question the precedent of individualized pension relief and the fiscal burden on the local employer.