Allows certain members employed by state parole board to retire without reduction of benefits at 55 or older upon completing 25 or more years of service

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 creates a new retirement plan for peace officers and parole revocation specialists in the Division of Parole. Peace officers to be defined by Section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Section 2 includes peace officers and parole revocation specialists employed in the Division of Parole among those individuals qualified as eligible for benefits regardless of age under section 445 of the retirement and social security law.

Section 3 includes peace officers and parole revocation specialists employed in the Division of Parole among those individuals eligible for benefits regardless of age under section 603 of the retirement and social security law.

Section 4 amends section 604 of the retirement and social security law to define the parameters of the early retirement plan for peace officers and parole revocation specialists in the state Division of Parole.

Section 5 establishes that the costs of the new retirement plan shall be the responsibility of the State of New York.

Section 6 establishes the effective date. The plan includes:

(1) Contribution by new members or returning members;

(2) Election option for currently serving officers to join new system;

(3) Retirement benefits accrue to members serving 25 years or reaching age 60.

Pension includes:

(1) An annuity equal to accumulated contributions at time of retirement;

(2) A pension, not to exceed 1/2 of his or her final average salary;

(3) An additional 1/60th of final average salary for each year of service beyond the 25 year period.

Justification

Parole officers are at the same risk as all other police officers in the State, as evidenced by the shooting of Officer Rooney in Queens County. Similar to other officers in this State, peace officers in the Division of Parole are armed and are trained in

the use of their weapons. As a result, these peace officers make numerous arrests of armed suspects, placing themselves in grave danger. Moreover, a higher degree of physical fitness is required upon entrance into service as a parole officer than is required by the other titles within the State.

Prior legislative history

2011-12: A.5673-B/Gov't Employees; S.5111-A/Civil Service 2009-10: A.2538-A/Gov't Employees 2008: A.2806-A/Gov't Emp/Ways & Means; S.893-B/Civil Service 2007: A.2806/Gov't Emp/ Ways & Means; S.893/Civil Service 2006: A.7030-B/Gov't Emp/Ways & Means; S.2984-B/Civil Service 2005: A.7030/Gov't Emp; S.2984/Civil Service 2004: A.1555-A/Gov't Emp/Ways & Means; S.835-A/Civil Service 2003: A.1555/Gov't Emp; S.835/Civil Service 2002: A.6362-B/Gov't Emp/Ways & Means; S.3224-B/Civil Service/Rules 2001: A.6362/Gov't Emp; S.3224/Civil Service

Fiscal implications

If enacted, there will be an increase of approximately $1.5 million in the annual contributions of the State of New York for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.

In addition to the annual contributions discussed above, there will be an immediate past service cost of approximately $9.72 million which would be borne by the State of New York. If this cost is amortized over a twelve-year period, the cost for the first year, including interest would be approximately $1.32 million.

These estimated costs are based on 1,081 known affected officers having a total estimated annual salary for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 of approximately $85 million.

This estimate, dated March 7, 2013 and intended for use only during the 2013 Legislative Session, is Fiscal Note No. 2013-96 prepared by the Actuary for the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately