What's happening
This bill expands disability retirement benefits and presumptions for airport firefighters and safety officers in New York's military and naval affairs division for heart, lung, and certain cancer conditions.
Why it matters
Strengthens protections for airport firefighters and safety officers. by legally presuming that heart, lung, and certain cancer-related disabilities are duty-related if no evidence of these conditions existed upon hiring—shifting the burden of proof to the employer and making it easier for affected employees to qualify for disability benefits.
Significantly increases the disability retirement benefit. raising it from about one-third of final average salary (FAS) to 75% of FAS minus workers’ compensation—providing much greater financial security for those who become disabled due to covered conditions.
Aligns airport firefighters and safety officers with broader firefighter protections. , recognizing the unique health risks associated with their roles at military and naval affairs facilities and ensuring parity with similar public safety employees regarding presumptive disability coverage.
Potentially impacts state finances and policy. by increasing annual state contributions and requiring a one-time payment for past service costs, reflecting a governmental commitment to workforce health and long-term support for employees exposed to occupational hazards.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Firefighter Disability Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Vetoed memo.246
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.521
- Substituted for A8326
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1746
- 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.
Boost Disability Pay for Firefighters
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
5 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6529
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 1, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to disability benefits for firefighters employed by the division of military and naval affairs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The retirement and social security law is amended by adding two new sections 63-g and 63-h to read as follows:
§ 63-g. Performance of duty disability retirement. a. Any member of the retirement system employed by the division of military and naval affairs shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section if he or she is an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or of any general or special law to the contrary, any member who becomes physically or mentally incapacitated as the result of a disability from any condition of impairment of health caused by: (1) diseases of the heart; or (2) any (i) melanoma or (ii) condition of cancer affecting the lymphatic, digestive, hematological, urinary, neurological, breast, reproductive or prostate systems, who is presently employed and who shall have sustained such disability while so employed and while actually a member of the retirement system, who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer, which examination failed to disclose evidence of any disease or other impairment of the heart or such melanoma or condition, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death (A) was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence and (B) was incurred in the perform-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09309-03-7
S. 6529 2
ance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence and shall be paid a performance of duty disability retirement benefit payable pursuant to this section.
c. Application for a performance of duty disability retirement allowance for such a member may be made by:
1. Such member;
2. The head of the department in which such member is employed; or
3. Some person acting on behalf of and authorized by such member.
d. After the filing of such an application such member shall be given one or more medical examinations.
e. If the comptroller determines that the member is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty and ought to be retired for performance of duty disability, such member shall be so retired. Such retirement shall be effective as of a date approved by the comptroller.
f. The retirement allowance payable upon retirement for performance of duty disability shall consist of a pension of one-half of his or her final average salary plus an annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of such member's accumulated contributions, if any.
g. If the member, at the time of the filing of an application under the provisions of subdivision c of this section, is eligible for a service retirement benefit, then and in that event, such member may simultaneously file an application for service retirement in accordance with the provisions of section seventy of this article, provided that the member indicates on the application for service retirement that such application is filed without prejudice to the application for performance of duty disability retirement.
h. Any benefit provided pursuant to this section shall not be considered as an accidental disability benefit within the meaning of section sixty-four of this title. Any benefit payable pursuant to the workers' compensation law to a member receiving a disability allowance pursuant to this section shall be in addition to such retirement for disability incurred in performance of duty allowance.
§ 63-h. Certain impairments of health; presumption. a. Any member of the retirement system employed by the division of military and naval affairs shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section if he or she is an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or of any general or special law to the contrary, any condition of impairment of health caused by: (1) diseases of the heart; or (2) any (i) melanoma or (ii) condition of cancer affecting the lymphatic, digestive, hematological, urinary, neurological, breast, reproductive or prostate systems resulting in disability to a member covered by this section, presently employed and who shall have sustained such disability as the result of an accident not caused by his or her own willful negligence sustained in such service and while actually a member of the retirement system, who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer which examination failed to disclose evidence of any disease or other impairment of the heart or such melanoma or condition, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death (A) was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence and (B) was incurred in the performance and discharge of
S. 6529 3
duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence and shall be paid a performance of duty disability retirement allowance equal to that which is provided in section sixty-three of this title, subject to the provisions of section sixty-four of this title.
c. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or of any general or special law to the contrary, any condition of impairment of health caused by diseases of the lung, resulting in disability to a member covered by this section, presently employed and while actually a member of the retirement system, who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer, which examination failed to disclose evidence of any disease or other impairment of the lung, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death (1) was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence and (2) was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence and shall be paid a performance of duty disability retirement allowance equal to that which is provided in section sixty-three of this title, subject to the provisions of section sixty-four of this title.
§ 2. The retirement and social security law is amended by adding two new sections 607-i and 607-j to read as follows:
§ 607-i. Performance of duty disability retirement. a. Any member of the retirement system employed by the division of military and naval affairs shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section if he or she is an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or of any general or special law to the contrary, any member who becomes physically or mentally incapacitated as the result of a disability from any condition of impairment of health caused by: (1) diseases of the heart; or (2) any (i) melanoma or (ii) condition of cancer affecting the lymphatic, digestive, hematological, urinary, neurological, breast, reproductive or prostate systems, who is presently employed and who shall have sustained such disability while so employed and while actually a member of the retirement system, who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer, which examination failed to disclose evidence of any disease or other impairment of the heart or such melanoma or condition, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death (A) was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence and (B) was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence and shall be paid a performance of duty disability retirement benefit payable pursuant to this section.
c. Application for a performance of duty disability retirement allowance for such a member may be made by:
1. Such member;
2. The head of the department in which such member is employed; or
3. Some person acting on behalf of and authorized by such member.
d. After the filing of such an application such member shall be given one or more medical examinations.
e. If the comptroller determines that the member is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty and ought to be
S. 6529 4
retired for performance of duty disability, such member shall be so retired. Such retirement shall be effective as of a date approved by the comptroller.
f. The retirement allowance payable upon retirement for performance of duty disability shall consist of a pension of one-half of his or her final average salary plus an annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of such member's accumulated contributions, if any.
g. If the member, at the time of the filing of an application under the provisions of subdivision c of this section, is eligible for a service retirement benefit, then and in that event, such member may simultaneously file an application for service retirement in accordance with the provisions of section seventy of this chapter, provided that the member indicates on the application for service retirement that such application is filed without prejudice to the application for performance of duty disability retirement.
h. Any benefit provided pursuant to this section shall not be considered as an accidental disability benefit within the meaning of section sixty-four of this chapter. Any benefit payable pursuant to the workers' compensation law to a member receiving a disability allowance pursuant to this section shall be in addition to such retirement for disability incurred in performance of duty allowance.
§ 607-j. Certain impairments of health; presumption. a. Any member of the retirement system employed by the division of military and naval affairs shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section if he or she is an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or of any general or special law to the contrary, any condition of impairment of health caused by: (1) diseases of the heart; or (2) any (i) melanoma or (ii) condition of cancer affecting the lymphatic, digestive, hematological, urinary, neurological, breast, reproductive or prostate systems resulting in disability to a member covered by this section, presently employed and who shall have sustained such disability as the result of an accident not caused by his or her own willful negligence sustained in such service and while actually a member of the retirement system, who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer which examination failed to disclose evidence of any disease or other impairment of the heart or such melanoma or condition, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death (A) was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence and (B) was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence and shall be paid a performance of duty disability retirement allowance equal to that which is provided in section sixty-three of this chapter, subject to the provisions of sections sixty-three and sixty-four of this chapter.
c. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or of any general or special law to the contrary, any condition of impairment of health caused by diseases of the lung, resulting in disability to a member covered by this section, presently employed and while actually a member of the retirement system, who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into service as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer, which examination failed to disclose evidence of
S. 6529 5
any disease or other impairment of the lung, shall be presumptive evidence that such disability or death (1) was caused by the natural and proximate result of an accident, not caused by such firefighter's own negligence and (2) was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence and shall be paid a performance of duty disability retirement allowance equal to that which is provided in section sixty-three of this chapter, subject to the provisions of section sixty-four of this chapter.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
This bill would grant improved disability pensions to airport fire-
fighters and training and safety officers in the New York State division
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 disability benefits for firefighters employed by the division of military and naval affairs
Purpose
This bill would grant improved disability pensions to airport firefighters and training and safety officers in New York State division of military and naval affairs who sustain a disability related to heart disease, lung disease and certain forms of cancer.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the retirement and social security law by adding two new sections 63-g and 63-h which establish that any member of the retirement system employed by the division of military and naval affairs shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section if he or she is an airport firefighter apprentice, firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer.
Section two amends the social security law to establish that any member of the retirement system employed by the division of military and naval affairs shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section if he or she is an airport firefighter apprentice, firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer.
Section three establishes the effective date.
Justification
This bill would grant improved disability pensions to airport firefighters and training and safety officers in New York State division of military and naval affairs who sustain a disability related to hem 1 disease, lung disease and certain forms of cancer. Currently, benefits are approximately 1/3 of final average salary (FAS), and this bill would increase benefits to 50 percent or 75 percent of FAS. Furthermore, the bill would help individuals who sustain such disabilities to establish the presumption that they were incurred in the performance and discharge of duty, unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence. This piece of legislation will help to ensure these brave men and women receive the care they deserve.
Legislative history
2016: S.8071 - Veto Memo. 261 2008: S.7934 - 3rd Reading Calendar/A.11111 - Passed Assembly. 2007: Veto #61
Fiscal implications
The disability benefits of affected members with heart, lung of certain cancer related disabilities would increase from approximately 1/3 of final average salary (FAS) to 75% of FAS. The estimated increase in the annual contributions of the State of New York for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 would be approximately $24,000. These estimated costs are based on sixty-one (61) members having an annual salary for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 of approximately $3.7 million.
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.