Provides credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for military service rendered during certain periods; appropriation

39 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Fredrick J. Akshar II
• George Amedore
• Tony Avella
• John J. Bonacic
• David Carlucci
• Thomas Croci
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Ruben Diaz
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Adriano Espaillat
• Hugh T. Farley
• Simcha Felder
• John J. Flanagan
• Rich Funke
• Patrick M. Gallivan
• Martin J. Golden
• Joseph A. Griffo
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Brad Hoylman-Sigal
• Timothy M. Kennedy
• Andrew J. Lanza
• Kenneth P. LaValle
• Betty Little
• Kathleen A. Marchione
• Jack M. Martins
• Terrence P. Murphy
• Michael F. Nozzolio
• Robert Ortt
• Kevin S. Parker
• José Peralta
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Patty Ritchie
• Joseph E. Robach
• Diane J. Savino
• Susan Serino
• James L. Seward
• Michael Venditto
• Catharine Young

BILL NUMBER:S4124

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 military service; and making an appropriation therefor

Purpose

To extend the Military Service Credit Law of 2000 to all veterans who honorably served in the military.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends section 1000 of the retirement and social services law, as added by chapter 548 of the laws of 2000 and subdivision 9 as added by chapter 547 of the laws of 2002, by deleting the specified periods of time in which military service would had to have been rendered in order to receive up to three years of service credit. Such specified periods currently prevent a person who served in the military, outside such periods, from obtaining service credit when applying to a public retirement system of the state. This section also deletes other restricting dates.

Section two provides the appropriation necessary for the legislation.

Section three provides the effective date.

Justification

Currently, the New York State Military Service Credit Law permits active public employees who served in the military, during some selected periods, or upon the receipt of some selected medals, or in some selected countries, to purchase up to three years of credit for their military service. New York's law is unfair to those veterans who served our country honorably but who do not qualify due to the fact that their service does not fall within one of the military conflicts or date ranges specified in the statute. For instance, it is an absolute disgrace that troops who served in combat in Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Korean DMZ are not eligible under current law for military service credit.

Regardless of where or when they serve, all our veterans are owed a debt of gratitude and extending New York's Military Service Credit Law to all honorably discharged veterans is a small price to pay to honor our brave men and women.

In addition, the United States now depends on a volunteer military. In order to encourage citizens to become a member of the military, the state needs to recognize all honorably discharged veterans by allowing them to access the veteran's service credit buy back law.

Legislative history

S.7839/A.6974-A, 2014: Veto 484

S.4714-A, 2013-2014 Passed Senate S.6904-A, 2012 referred to civil service and pensions A 6663-A, 2010 referred to ways and means. Same as S.4316-A, 2010 referred to civil service and pensions. A 6663, 2009 referred to governmental employees. Same as S.4316, 2009 referred to civil service and pensions A.6318-C 2008, passed assembly. A.6318-C 2007, referred to governmental employees committee. Same as S.5495 (Leibell).

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.