Provides credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for certain military service during the Iranian hostage crisis

BILL NUMBER:S7292

Title of bill

An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to providing credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for certain military service during the Iranian hostage crisis

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation would extend the military service credit as provided for in Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2000, to include the Iranian Hostage Crisis from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981 as established by an expeditionary medal.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends paragraph (a) of Subdivision 2 of § 1000 of the retirement and social security law, by adding:

(a) Hostilities participated in by military forces of the United States in Iran, from the fourth day of November, nineteen hundred seventy-nine to the twentieth day of January, nineteen hundred eighty-one, as established by receipt of the armed forces expeditionary medal, the navy expeditionary medal, or the marine corps expeditionary medal.

Section 2 allows the act to take effect immediately.

Justification

U S Military veterans from New York State who defended our country during hostilities should have the ability to earn military service credit as members of the Public retirement system. Veterans who served in hostile actions during the Lebanon, Granada, and Panama crises may be eligible for military service credit, but those who served during the Iranian Hostage Crisis have been overlooked and are not able to receive these same benefits. This legislation will allow our brave soldiers to earn military service credit if they served during the Iranian Hostage Crisis from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.