Allows certain members employed by division of parole to retire without reduction of benefits at 55 or older upon completing 25 or more years of service

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 creates a new retirement plan for peace officers and parole revocation specialists in the Division of Parole. Peace officers to be defined by Section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Section 2 includes peace officers and parole revocation specialists employed in the Division of Parole among those individuals qualified as eligible for benefits regardless of age under section 445 of the retire- ment and social security law.

Section 3 includes peace officers and parole revocation specialists employed in the Division of Parole among those individuals eligible for benefits regardless of age under section 503 of the retirement and social security law.

Section 4 amends section 504 of the retirement and social security law to define the parameters of the early retirement plan for peace officers and parole revocation specialists in the state Division of Parole.

Section 5 includes peace officers and parole revocation specialists employed in the Division of Parole among those individuals qualified as eligible for benefits regardless of age under section 511 of the retire- ment and social security law.

Section 6 adds a new paragraph to section 600 of the retirement and social security law to provide for the election of the 25-year retire- ment plan option by peace officers and parole revocation specialists employed in the state Division of Parole.

Section 7 makes provisions relating to the determination of accrued liabilities of the retirement system related to the benefits provided under this act.

Section 8 establishes that the costs of the new retirement plan shall be the responsibility of the State of New York. Section 9 establishes the effective date as the first of April succeeding enactment. The plan includes:

(1) Contribution by new members or returning members;

(2) Election option for currently serving officers to join new system;

(3) Retirement benefits accrue to members serving 25 years or reaching age 60.

Pension includes:

(1) An annuity equal to accumulated contributions at time of retirement;

(2) A pension, not to exceed 1/2 of his or her final average salary;

(3) An additional 1/60th of final average salary for each year of service beyond the 25 year period.

Justification

Parole officers are at the same risk as all other police officers in the State, as evidenced by the shooting of Officer Rooney in Queens County. Similar to other officers in this State, peace officers in the Division of Parole are armed and are trained in the use of their weapons. As a result, these peace officers make numerous arrests of armed suspects, placing themselves in grave danger. Moreover, a higher degree of physical fitness is required upon entrance into service as a parole officer than is required by the other titles within the State.

Prior legislative history

2003-04, S.835/A1555, 2001-02, S.3224-B/A.6362 B, 1999-00, S.4790-A/A.7969-A; 1997-98, S.5017-A/A.9491; 1995-96, S.3581/A.6278; 1993-94, S.5151-A/A.10268; 1991-92, S.4132/A.6714; 1989-90, S.6187-B/A.8822, passed in Senate; 1987-88, S.6143/A.8162

Fiscal implications

If enacted, there will be an increase of approxi- mately $2.8 million in the annual contributions of the State of New York for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. In addition to the annual contributions discussed above, there will be an immediate past service cost of approximately $13.6 million which would be borne by the State of New York. This estimate is based on the assumption that payment will be made on March 1, 2011. If this cost is amortized over a ten year period, the cost for the first year including interest would be approximately $1.9 million.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.