What's happening
This bill extends the reemployment approval period for retired firefighters, police officers, and EMTs from two to five years.
Why it matters
Addresses staffing shortages in critical public safety roles. By allowing retired firefighters, police officers, and EMTs to return to work for up to five years (instead of two), the bill helps municipalities and agencies quickly fill gaps caused by retirements, unexpected vacancies, or recruitment challenges.
Expands the pool of experienced candidates. Extending the reemployment period makes it easier to retain or rehire highly trained, certified professionals, which can be especially valuable when suitable non-retired candidates are hard to find.
May impact pension spending and workforce planning. The longer reemployment window allows retirees to receive both a salary and a pension for a longer period, potentially affecting pension fund outlays and the career advancement of current employees awaiting promotion or permanent positions.
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Who cares
Retired firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians
The bill would provide five-year approvals to work in these roles without reducing their retirement allowance, instead of approvals lasting no more than two years.
Government employers hiring retired emergency responders
Five-year approvals would allow them to retain approved retirees in these roles longer before seeking another approval.
Authorities approving retiree employment
They would have to grant five-year approvals for service as a firefighter, police officer or emergency medical technician, including applications pending when the bill takes effect.
Headline styles
Let Retirees Work Full-Time
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental employees
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.894
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to governmental employees
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
Show 5 earlier actions
- Amended on third reading 3552a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.270
- 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.
Let Retirees Work Without Cuts
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3552--A Cal. No. 270
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to employment of retired persons without diminution of retirement allowance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 211 of the retirement and social security law, as amended by chapter 640 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Such approval may be granted only on the written request of the prospective employer of such retired person, which request shall state detailed reasons therefor related to the standards set forth herein, and on a finding, on evidence satisfactory to the appropriate officer or authority specified in paragraph (a) of this subdivision,
(1) that the retired person is duly qualified, competent and physically fit for performance of the duties of the position in which he or she is to be employed and is properly certified where such certification is required;
(2) that he or she will earn more than one thousand dollars in one year, including compensation earned in such position under other provisions of this article that there are not readily available for recruitment persons qualified to perform the duties of such position; [and (4);]
(3) that the prospective employer has prepared a detailed recruitment plan to fill such vacancy on a permanent basis;
(4) that his or her employment is in the best interests of the government service; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06478-02-7
S. 3552--A 2
(5)(i) that there is an urgent need for his or her services in such position as a result of an unplanned, unpredictable and unexpected vacancy where sufficient time is not available to recruit a qualified individual and that such hiring shall be deemed as non-permanent rather than a final filling of such position; or
(ii) that the prospective employer has undertaken extensive recruitment efforts to fill such vacancy and as a result thereof, has determined that there are no available non-retired persons qualified to perform the duties of such position.
Such approvals may be granted for periods not exceeding two years each, provided that such person may not return to work in the same or similar position for a period of one year following retirement; provided, however, that when the approval is for such person to serve as a firefighter, police officer or emergency medical technician, the approval shall not be subject to the two year time limit and, shall be granted for a period of five years. The authority or officer specified in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, upon approving employment of a retired person under this section, shall certify such approval to the retirement system or pension plan from which such person is receiving a retirement allowance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all applications pending approval on and after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to employment of retired persons without diminution of retirement allowance
Purpose
This legislation removes the two-year time limit restriction on Retirement and Social Security Law section 211 for retirees seeking to be hired as a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical technician.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 211 of the Retirement and Social Security Law to provide that the waiver granted for retirees seeking to serve as a firefighter, police officer or emergency medical technician is not subject to the two-year time limit, and at the request of the prospective employer, the waiver shall be granted for a period of five years.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all applications pending approvals on and after such date.
Existing law
Currently, Retirement and Social Security Law section 211 waivers for retirees are granted two-year periods.
Justification
While the current law is intended to protect taxpayers from pension abuses, public safety and public health remain a critical issue in municipalities throughout New York State. In municipalities that require all eligible men and women to serve the public in an effort to keep their towns safe and operating smoothly, it is important such municipalities are not restricted from hiring well-experienced firefighters, police offers, and/or emergency medical technicians. This legislation allows municipalities an opportunity to hire retirees without forcing them to jump through unnecessary hurdles, such as the two-year time limit restriction.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all applications pending approvals on and after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.