What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental employees
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 58–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1576
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Authorizes the New York state teachers' retirement system to accept an application for disability retirement benefits from James O'Connell
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6458
Title of bill
An act to authorize the New York state teachers' retire- ment system to accept an application for disability retirement benefits from James O'Connell
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill allows James O'Connell to apply for a disability retirement from the Teachers' Retirement System.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Authorizes the Teachers' Retirement System to accept the disability retirement application of James O'Connell, who for reasons not ascribable to his own negligence, failed to apply for such benefit in a timely manner.
Section 2: Provides that all costs associated shall be borne by the Teachers' Retirement System.
Section 3: Effective date.
Justification
James O'Connell sustained injuries as a result of two separate assaults in 1993 and 1996 while he was employed by the Goshen Secure Center. He sustained injuries to his neck, back, and shoulder and underwent reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder. In 1997, Mr. O'Connell began employment with the Port Jervis City School District. From this time until his position was eliminated on August 31, 2008 due to budget cuts, his condition deteriorated significantly. After months of awaiting a decision on his Workers Compensation claim, Mr. O'Connell underwent emergency surgery, on February 26, 2009, to remove extruded disc fragments from his spinal cord. The delayed surgery resulted in further complications. Recovery was initially favorable, yet debilitat- ing scar tissue began forming in August of 2009. On September 2, 2009, James' doctor diagnosed him with permanent 100% disability.
Due to his medical condition and for reasons not ascribable to his own negligence, Mr. O'Connell did not file a disability retirement applica- tion with the New York State Teachers Retirement System until Sept, 14, 2009. This was 15 days after the one-year statutory deadline. This legislation seeks to afford Mr. O'Connell the ability to have his appli- cation for a disability retirement considered by the Teachers Retirement System. It is important to note that it does make a determination wheth- er he will receive such a benefit, but rather that his application be considered.
Prior legislative history
A.7711 of 2013: Died in Assembly Govern- mental Employees
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
The cost of this benefit is equal to the increase in present value of liabilities, which is estimated to be $270,000. This cost is contingent upon approval of
James O'Connell's application for disability retirement by the Medical Board of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.