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S3070Senate2017-2018 SessionSame asA636

Include Stepchildren in Benefits

Official title

“Includes step children within the meaning of the term "child" for purposes of additional credits for children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs and paramedics killed in the line of duty”

Sponsor Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.SD-15+7 co-sponsorsAffects Finance
Status
In Assembly Committee
Governmental Employees
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 5 of 7

In Assembly · Governmental Employees

What's happening

This bill expands civil service credit eligibility to include stepchildren of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and paramedics killed in the line of duty.

Why it matters

  1. Expands the definition of "child" to include stepchildren and certain children of surviving spouses. , ensuring that families formed through remarriage or blended families are not excluded from civil service credit benefits when a firefighter, police officer, EMT, or paramedic is killed in the line of duty.

  2. Addresses fairness and inclusivity by recognizing the realities of modern families. , where stepchildren may have strong familial bonds and may have relied on the deceased as a parent, but were previously left out of such benefits.

  3. Specifies that eligible children must have been born before the line-of-duty death occurred. , preventing posthumous claims and helping to clarify eligibility, which may reduce administrative disputes or confusion for affected families.

  4. Could have a meaningful financial and career impact for stepchildren. , as civil service credits can improve hiring and advancement opportunities, thereby extending a vital support system to a broader group of survivors.

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Headline styles

Include Stepchildren in Benefits

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Senator · Senate District 15

History

  1. Referred to governmental employees
  2. Delivered to assembly
  3. Passed senateVote 62–1
  4. Advanced to third reading
  5. 2nd report cal.
  6. 1st report cal.161
  7. Referred to civil service and pensions
  8. Returned to senate
  9. Died in assembly
  10. Referred to governmental employees
  11. Delivered to assembly
  12. Passed senateVote 58–1
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Advanced to third reading
  2. 2nd report cal.
  3. 1st report cal.155
  4. 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.

A636Assembly

Include Stepchildren as Survivors

In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Michael G. Miller

Impact 4 · Low0% to pass

Full text

2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

3070

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 19, 2017

Introduced by Sens. ADDABBO, AVELLA, GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions

AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to civil service credits for step children of firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics killed in the line of duty

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 85-a of the civil service law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:

(c) For purposes of this section, the term "child" shall include (i) a step child of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty, or (ii) the child of a surviving spouse of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty, provided that such child was born prior to the date on which such an individual is killed in the line of duty.

§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 85-b of the civil service law, as amended by chapter 376 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:

1. [Definition] Definitions. (a) As used in this section, "killed in the line of duty" shall mean having died in the performance of duty as the natural and proximate result of the World Trade Center attack on September eleventh, two thousand one or as the natural and proximate result of participation in the rescue effort that was conducted in response to such attack.

(b) For purposes of this section, the term "child" shall include (i) a step child of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty, or (ii) the child of a surviving spouse of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty, provided that such

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD02768-01-7

S. 3070 2

child was born prior to the date on which such an individual is killed in the line of duty.

§ 3. Subdivision 1 of section 85-c of the civil service law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:

(c) For purposes of this section, the term "child" shall include (i) a step child of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty, or (ii) the child of a surviving spouse of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty, provided that such child was born prior to the date on which such an individual is killed in the line of duty.

§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to civil service credits for step children of firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics killed in the line of duty

Purpose

To provide "legacy credits" to a step child or the child of a surviving spouse of a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician or paramedic killed in the line of duty. Legacy credits are points which can be used on civil service tests when the job applicant is the child of a first responder killed in the line of duty.

Summary of provisions

Amends Subdivision 1 of section 85-b and 85-c of the civil service as amended by chapter 376 of the laws of 2013, by adding a new paragraph c to add this new class of children of emergency responders to be eligible for legacy credits.

Justification

This legislation seeks to extend the benefit of legacy credits to the children of emergency responders killed in the line of duty to include lawful step children in addition to step children that may not be biological or legally adopted children, but may be the child of a surviving spouse of such a tragic event. In many cases, these first responders have "raised" these children, including providing for them financially for many years, and acted as their parent in every sense of the word. As a tribute to the heroism of these first responders and appreciation to their families' sacrifice, these legacy credits should be extended to these children.

Legislative history

2015: S. 3604B - Passed Senate

2016: S. 3604B - Passed Senate.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.