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S7544Senate2009-2010 SessionSame asA10753

Allows state police officers to receive an improved death benefit if they die without 20 years of service credit but with enough vacation and sick time to reach 20 years

Sponsor David J. ValeskySD-49+1 co-sponsorAffects Finance
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
Pending
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
David J. Valesky

Senator · Senate District 49

History

  1. Signed chap.525
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to senate
  4. Passed assembly
  5. Ordered to third reading rules cal.539
  6. Substituted for A10753A
  7. Referred to ways and means
  8. Returned to assembly
  9. Repassed senate
  10. Amended on third reading 7544a
  11. Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
  12. Returned to senate
Show 8 earlier actions
  1. Recalled from assembly
  2. Referred to ways and means
  3. Delivered to assembly
  4. Passed senateVote 61–0
  5. Ordered to third reading cal.1102
  6. Reported and committed to rules
  7. Reported and committed to finance
  8. Referred to civil service and pensions

Companion bill

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

BILL NUMBER:S7544A

Title of bill

An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to allowing state police officers to receive an improved death benefit where such officers die without twenty years of service credit

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill allows state police officers to receive an improved death benefit if they die without 20 years of service but with enough vacation and sick time to reach 20 years.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill will provide an improved death benefit equal to the pension reserve to the beneficiaries of State Police Officers by allowing their unused vacation and sick leave credit to be included with their service credit for the purpose of determining retirement eligibility. All past service costs will be paid by the State of New York, and all future costs will be shared and spread over the future working lifetimes of current members.

Justification

This bill is in response to the tragic death of State Trooper John Gorke in the Town of Pompey on July 3, 2009. Trooper Gorke was a 19 year veteran of the force who, at the time of his death, had assembled enough unused vacation and sick time to put him over the 20 years of service credit threshold required to be eligible for improved death benefits. By fixing this loophole, his family, and others in this situation will no longer be denied the death benefits they deserve from their loved ones dedicated service to the force based on a technicality.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

If this bill is enacted, for the one person known to be affected, we anticipate that there will be a cost to the State of New York of approximately $357,000, based on a billing date of March 1, 2011. This figure is approximately $190,000 more than his family would receive without this legislation. In the future, we anticipate that there will be few individuals affected by this legislation.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after July 2, 2009.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.