What's happening
This bill allows SUNY police officers to qualify for "heart bill" performance of duty disability benefits under state retirement law.
Why it matters
Expanding coverage to SUNY police officers means these officers would have easier access to disability benefits if they develop heart-related conditions presumed to be job-related, putting them on equal footing with other police and firefighters in New York.
This change recognizes the physical and psychological risks SUNY police face, potentially improving recruitment and retention by offering more comprehensive protection if officers are disabled in the line of duty.
Although the bill could increase the number of disability claims classified as “performance of duty,” official estimates suggest the fiscal impact will be minimal due to the relatively small number of anticipated cases.
The amendment reflects a broader trend toward acknowledging the health hazards of law enforcement work—including less visible risks like heart conditions—by extending legal and financial protections.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cover SUNY Police Heart Disease
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Substituted by S3841
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.84
- Rules report cal.84
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to governmental employees
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.
Protect SUNY Police Heart Health
Vetoed · Sponsor Andrew Gounardes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5301
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 8, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABBATE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to certain disabilities of university police officers appointed by the state university of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 363-a of the retirement and social security law, as amended by chapter 437 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
3. As used in this section, the terms "firefighter" and "police officer" mean any member who is performing police or fire service, as the phrase police or fire service is defined in paragraphs a, b, c, d, f (as added by chapter six hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen eighty-six), f (as added by chapter six hundred seventy-seven of the laws of nineteen eighty-six), g, h, i and j of subdivision eleven of section three hundred two of this article, and who, prior to entry into service as a firefighter or police officer, successfully passed a physical examination which failed to disclose evidence of any disease or other impairment of the heart.
§ 2. The amendments to section 363-a of the retirement and social security law made by section one of this act shall not affect, impair, or invalidate any temporary right, privilege, or benefit conferred pursuant to the provisions of a general, special or local law (other than pursuant to articles 14 and 15 of the retirement and social security law) for any member of a public retirement system or pension plan funded by the state or one of its political subdivisions, nor shall any amendments thereto affect the application of such provisions as extended by the provisions of section 480 of the retirement and social security law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08624-02-9
A. 5301 2
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
This bill is a technical correction to Chapter 561 of the Laws of
2015. It would add a "heart bill" performance of duty disability
provision for police officers of the State University of New York who
are members of the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement
System.
If this bill is enacted, it could lead to more disabilities being
classified as "performance of duty". We anticipate that few performance
of duty disability retirements will be granted, and thus, the resulting
costs will be negligible.
Summary of relevant resources:
The membership data used in measuring the impact of the proposed
change was the same as that used in the March 31, 2018 actuarial valu-
ation. Distributions and other statistics can be found in the 2018
Report of the Actuary and the 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report.
The actuarial assumptions and methods used are described in the 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018 Annual Report to the Comptroller on Actuarial
Assumptions, and the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New
York: Audit and Control.
The Market Assets and GASB Disclosures are found in the March 31, 2018
New York State and Local Retirement System Financial Statements and
Supplementary Information.
I am a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and meet the Quali-
fication Standards to render the actuarial opinion contained herein.
This fiscal note does not constitute a legal opinion on the viability
of the proposed change nor is it intended to serve as a substitute for
the professional judgment of an attorney.
This estimate, dated January 31, 2019, and intended for use only
during the 2019 Legislative Session, is Fiscal Note No. 2019-45,
prepared by the Actuary for the New York State and Local Retirement
System.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.