Permits N.Y. state and N.Y. city teachers' retirement system members to claim retirement credit for up to 10 years of federal teaching service

1 Co-sponsor

• Michael F. Nozzolio

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, the retirement and social security law and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to permitting members of the New York state and New York city teachers' retirement systems to claim retirement credit for certain federal teaching service

Purpose

This bill would allow members of the Teachers' Retirement System to claim credit for up to ten years of teaching service rendered while in the employ of the Federal Government, including service in the Peace Corps, Head Start and VISTA.

Summary of provisions

This bill would amend section 509 of the Education law and sections 446, 513, and 609 of the Retirement and Social Security Law to permit members of the New York State Teacher's Retirement System to claim up to ten years of federal teaching service.

Justification

Since the retirement system was established in 1921, Tier I members of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System have been able to claim credit for up to ten years of public school teaching service performed in another state. However, if a member was employed by the Federal Government and taught in either another state or even in New York State, he/she is denied the retirement credit. An example would be teaching in the elementary schools at the Military Academy at West Point, or service in organizations such as Head Start, the Peace Corps and VISTA. The knowledge and experience gained through these experiences is of great benefit to New York State's students and educational system. Enactment of this bill would correct this inequity by allowing such Tier I members to claim retirement credit for teaching service rendered while in the employ of the Federal Government. This bill also extends the provisions of claiming credit for federal teaching service to Tier II, III, and IV members.

Legislative history

A.8944/S.6166 of 1996-97; Referred to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee A.3390/S.2157 of 1998-99; Referred to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee A.4977/S.4702 of 1999-2000; Referred to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee A.5656A/S.6200 of 2001-2002; Referred to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee S.3250/A.6178B of 2003-2004; Referred to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee S.3233A/A.8752A of 2005/2006; Referred to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee

Fiscal implications

It is not possible to determine the annual cost to the employers of members of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System since the total amount of service credit which Would be claimed under this bill cannot be estimated. However, the additional cost to the employers of members of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System is estimated to be $17,900 per year of service credited if this bill is enacted.

Effective date

This act shall take effect June 30, 2010, with provisions.