What's happening
This bill allows retired New York state police officers to work as local police officers without losing retirement benefits.
Why it matters
Addresses local police staffing shortages. by allowing retired state police officers to fill local police roles, which can help communities quickly add experienced personnel during times of need or understaffing.
Removes a financial deterrent for retirees. , making it possible for retired state police officers to work in law enforcement again without sacrificing their pension or retirement income, which could encourage more highly trained officers to return to public service.
Creates a specific exception in retirement law. for state police retirees, signaling a policy shift that values their expertise and aims to retain institutional knowledge within New York's law enforcement community.
Establishes oversight by the state police superintendent. for these appointments, ensuring a layer of review and maintaining standards for who can return to work without earnings limitations.
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Who cares
Retired state police officers
The bill would allow them to work as local police officers without reduced retirement benefits if the state police superintendent approves an earnings-limit exemption.
Local police departments
The bill would provide a route to hire retired state police officers without pension earnings limits restricting their pay.
State police superintendent
The bill would give the superintendent authority to approve retired state police officers’ employment as local police officers and exempt their earnings from retirement-law limits.
Headline styles
Let Retired Troopers Police Locally
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- 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.
Retired State Police Can Rehire
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Joe DeStefano
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1521
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- 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 allowing retired state police officers to serve as police officers for local police departments without diminution of retirement benefits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph 7 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 211 of the retirement and social security law, as amended by chapter 840 of the laws of 1983, is amended and a new subparagraph 8 is added to read as follows:
(7) the chief administrator of the courts if such person is to be employed in a judicial or nonjudicial position in the unified court system[.]; or
(8) the superintendent of state police, if such person is a former state police officer to be employed as a police officer for a local police department.
§ 2. Subparagraph 2 of 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:
(2) that [he or she] such retired person 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. Section 211 of the retirement and social security law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. For purposes of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section, a retired person who served as a police officer for the division of state police is not in service of a former employer if such retired
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04381-01-5
person is serving as a local police officer after retirement from the state police.
§ 4. Section 212 of the retirement and social security law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions one and two of this section, the superintendent of state police may determine, pursuant to section two hundred eleven of this article, that such earnings limitations shall not apply to a retired state police officer employed by a local police department as a police officer.
§ 5. 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 retirement and social security law, in relation to allowing retired state police officers to serve as police officers for local police departments without diminution of retirement benefits
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow retired state police officers to serve in local police depart- ments without incurring earnings limitations or reduction in retirement benefits.
Summary of specific provisions
Amends retirement and social security law, to allow retired state police officers to serve a local police department after retirement from the state police without incurring earnings limitations or a reduction of benefits.
Justification
This legislation recognizes that retired state police officers, who are highly trained law enforcement officers and who over the course of their careers obtain a wealth of knowledge and experience, should be able to serve in a local police department after retiring from state service without loss of earned benefits. This would allow local police depart- ments to add seasoned police officers to assist in local law enforce- ment.
Prior legislative history
2018: S8950
2029: S1881
2021: S5499
2023: S2180
Fiscal implications
None.
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.