Extends benefits of the variable supplements fund to New York city police, firefighters, housing police, transit police, correction officers and registered domestic partners

Summary of provisions

This legislation adds subdivision (f) to 13-271 and 13-281 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York which would add all police officers who are ineligible for the variable supplements fund. This includes all disabled and vested New York City police officers and line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vested in a retirement system prior to the effec- tive date of this subdivision. The Administrative Code of the City of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision (h) to § 13-385 and subdivision (f) to § 13-395 to add all firefighters who are ineligible for the variable supplement fund. This includes all disabled and vested New York City firefighters and line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vested in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivision. The Administrative Code of the City of New York is amended by adding a new paragraph (i) to subdivision 4 of § 13-191 and a new paragraph (h) to subdivision 4 of § 13192 to add all transit police officers who are ineligible for the variable supple- ment fund. This includes all disabled and vested New York City transit police officers and line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domes tic partners, who vested in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivision. The Administrative Code of the City of New York is amended by adding a new paragraph (I) to subdivision 4 of § 13-191 and a new paragraph (h) to subdivision 4 of .13-192 to add-all- housing police officers who are ineligible-for the variable supplement fund. This includes all disabled and vested New York City housing police officers and line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vested in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivision. This legislation adds subdivision (f) to §§ 13-271 and 13-281 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York which would add all correction officer members who are ineligible for the variable supplements fund. This includes all disabled and vested New York City corrections officers and line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vested in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivision.

Justification

The current variable supplement fund is only available to those officers who retire after 20 years of service. Anyone who retired with a disability pension has been excluded. All retirees should be treated equally, therefore this bill would provide the variable supplement benefit to all retired police officers, firefighters, housing police, transit police and registered domestic partners from the effec-

tive date into the future. Former members of the NYC Housing and Transit Police that retired for service after June 30, 1987 presently receive a supplemental benefit from the Variable Supplements Fund (hereinafter referred to as the "VSF"). The

VSF was enacted into law as a result of a fact-finders award in 1970 and was granted to members of the NYC Police and Fire pension funds that retired for service after October 1, 1968. In the mid-1960s members of the Housing and Transit Police were granted and given pay and retirement benefit parity. However, the VSF was not bestowed upon similarly situ- ated members of those two departments until legislation was enacted effective after June 30, 1987, As a matter of equity and fairness, the VSF should be granted to all members of the Housing and Transit Police that retired for service subsequent to October 1, 1968,

Legislative history

2009: S.614 - Referred to Civil Service / A.8344 - Referred to Governmental Employees. 2008: S.5711 - Referred to Civil Service / A.11345 - Referred to Govern- mental Employees. 2007: S.5711 - Referred to Civil Service. 2006: S.3434 - Referred to Civil Service & Pensions / A.6599 - Referred to Governmental Employees. 2005: S.3434 - Referred to Civil Service & Pensions / A.6599 - Referred to Governmental Employees. 2004: S.2234 - Referred to Civil Services and Pensions / A.1349 - Referred to Governmental Employees. 2003: S.2234 - Referred to Civil Services and Pensions / A.1349 - Referred to Governmental Employees. 2002: S.7395 - Referred to Rules.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.