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- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Referred to civil service and pensions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Prohibits the diminution of health insurance benefits of certain public employee retirees
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4371
Title of bill
An act to prohibit public employers from diminishing the health insurance benefits and contributions of certain retired public employees
Purpose
This bill would prohibit state and local governments from diminishing the health insurance benefits of retirees below the level of benefits that are in place 30 days after this act shall become law.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Prohibits the State and local governments from diminishing the health insurance benefits of retirees and their dependents, as well as the employer contribution toward such health insurance, below the level of benefits in place 30 days after this act shall take effect. This bill does not apply to school districts and BOCES because they have been recently covered under the current law.
Section 2: Grants precedence to collective bargaining agreements.
Section 3: Provides for future retirees from positions not subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Section 4: Ensures that a public employer which does not now offer health insurance benefits to retirees is not required to do so under this bill.
Existing law
Chapter 729 of the laws of 1994, as amended by Chapter 22 of the Laws of 2007 and the laws of 2009, prohibits school districts and BOCES from diminishing retiree health insurance benefits, unless there is a parallel diminution affecting active employees. Article XI of the Civil Service Law provides that retires from the State and participating agencies in the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) shall receive the same health insurance benefits as negotiated with active employees. There is no existing law protecting health insurance benefits of retirees from local governments.
Justification
Given the increasing costs of health care, health insurance coverage is of tremendous importance to retirees and their dependents.
Although there have been a number of attempts to protect retiree health coverage, there is no consistent standard for all retirees. Education retirees are now protected by a law. Some workers have retired under union contracts with stronger protections. Many retirees, however, have no protection. This bill creates a uniform standard of protection which applies to all retirees and their dependents, unless covered by a more favorable union contract.
Prior legislative history
2010: S.5543 - Reported to Finance/A.7060 - Held for Consideration in Ways & Means. 2009: S.5543 - Reported to Finance/A.7060 - Referred to Governmental Employees.
Fiscal implications
None. This bill merely requires the State to continue the level of benefits which it is now providing.
Effective date
30 days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.