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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
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 public employers from diminishing the health insurance benefits and contributions of retired public employees
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4515
Title of bill
An act prohibiting public employers from diminishing the health insurance benefits and contributions of retired public employees in the New York state and local employees' retirement system
Purpose of bill
To protect the health insurance benefits of State and local public government retirees and their dependents.
Summary of provisions of bill
This bill would provide that governmental employers would be prohibited from providing retired members of the New York State and Local Employee Retirement System and their dependents a diminished level of health insurance benefits than the level of such benefits provided to corresponding active public employees. The bill would apply only to retired members of the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System and their dependents. Collective bargaining agreements would take precedence over this prohibition and there would be no requirement that governmental entities offer health insurance benefits if they are not currently provided.
Existing law
Chapter 729 of the Laws of 1994 contained a similar prohibition against diminishing the health insurance benefits of school district retirees below the level of benefits provided to active district employees. Chapter 729 originally was a temporary measure renewed annually, but was made permanent by Chapter 504 of the Laws of 2009 (Part B, § 15).
Justification
Health insurance coverage is of tremendous importance to retirees and their dependents. This bill creates a uniform standard of protection which applies to both active and retired employees and their dependents, unless covered by a union contract. Retirees have no other protection as they have no ability, once retired, to bargain for benefits they were promised when they were hired.
Prior legislative history
Similar bills have been introduced since 1996. They have been passed by the Legislature and vetoed from 1999 through 2008. In 2008, the proposal was joined with the creation of a Legislative Task Force (S.6457-A; Veto 113). On February 20, 2009, Governor Paterson established a Task Force on Public Employee Retirement Health Care Benefits (Executive Order 15).
Fiscal implications
Minimal since the existing level of benefits would be continued.
Effective date
Immediately upon enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.