BILL NUMBER: S7586AREVISED 5/29/24
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to permit accidental death benefits to be awarded to the benefi-
ciary of Anthony Varvaro
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule or regulation
to the contrary, Anthony Varvaro, who was a member of the New York State
and Local Police and Fire Retirement System employed as a police officer
by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and who died on
September 11, 2022 as the result of an accident which occurred while he
was traveling to work, shall be deemed to have died as the natural and
proximate result of an accident sustained in the performance of duty.
The beneficiary or beneficiaries of Anthony Varvaro shall be eligible to
receive the accidental death benefit if an application therefore is
filed within one year of the effective date of this act. Any amounts
paid by the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement system
as the result of the death of Anthony Varvaro prior to the receipt of
the accidental death benefit pursuant to this section shall be deducted
from the benefit payable on an actuarially equivalent basis over the
expected future lifetime of the beneficiary or beneficiaries.
Section 2: All costs associated with this act shall be borne by the
state of New York. Section 3: Fiscal note/impact. This act shall take
effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Anthony Varvaro, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who retired in
2016 to become a police officer in New York City, was killed in a car
crash on his way to a Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony in Manhattan. Officer
Varvaro was thirty-seven and an officer for the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey at the time of his death.
Due to the unique circumstances of Officer Varvaro's passing and current
limitations in the law, this bill deems Officer Varvaro to have died as
the natural and proximate result of an accident sustained in the
performance of duty, while traveling to his worksite, so as to permit
accidental death benefits to be awarded to his beneficiaries.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.7586: Civil Service and Pension Committee A.8131-A: Referred to
Governmental Employees
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See 2024 fiscal note attached in legislative text.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.