BILL NUMBER: S8788
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to
eligibility for retirement benefits for certain members of the unified
court system
 
PURPOSE:
This bill will allow any Tier 6 member who is a uniformed court officer
or peace officer employed by the Unified Court System to retire without
early age reduction upon attaining 30 years of creditable service and
age 55. It will also reduce the normal retirement age from 63 to 62, and
lessen the reductions in benefits for those who retire prior to normal
retirement age.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 503 of the Retirement and Social Security Law
by allowing Tier 6 uniformed court officers or peace officers employed
by the Unified Court System into the age 55 retirement plans already in
place for other similar employees, and reduces the normal retirement age
for these employees from 63 to 62.
Section 2 amends Section 603 of the Retirement and Social Security Law
by allowing Tier 6 uniformed court officers or peace officers employed
by the Unified Court System into the age 55 retirement plans already in
place for other similar employees, and reduces the normal retirement age
for these employees from 63 to 62.
Section 3 amends Section 604 of the Retirement and Social Security Law
by allowing Tier 6 uniformed court officers or peace officers employed
by the Unified Court System into the age 55 retirement plans already in
place for other similar employees, and reduces the normal retirement age
for these employees from 63 to 62.
Section 4 amends Section 603 of the Retirement and Social Security Law
by allowing Tier 6 uniformed court officers or peace officers employed
by the Unified Court System into the age 55 retirement plans already in
place for other similar employees, and reduces the normal retirement age
for these employees from 63 to 62.
Section 5 provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to
the contrary, this bill is not subject to the appropriation requirement
of Retirement and Social Security Law section 25.
Section 6 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
When changes were made to the Retirement and Social Security Law that
allowed employees to retire without early age reduction upon attaining
30 years of service and age 55, court officers and peace officers
employed by the unified court system were left out of the legislation.
This bill will redress those inequities and provide these vital employ-
ees with the same opportunities as their counterparts. As they work in
the high-stress environment that is our court system, they deserve the
same retirement benefits already afforded to other law enforcement
personnel.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: S5653/ A5679 - Vetoed Memo 88.
2021-2022: S.5630-A - Amend and Recommit to Civil Service and
Pensions/A.6634-A Reported Referred to Ways and Means
2020: S.7813 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.9910 - Referred to
Governmental Employees
2019: S.3659 - Vetoed Memo 249/A.5940 - Vetoed Memo 249
2018: S.7704 - Vetoed Memo 290/A.9910 - Vetoed Memo 290
2017: S.3670 - Vetoed Memo 191/A.3332 - Vetoed Memo 191
2015-2016: S.6936 - Vetoed Memo 245/A.9440 - Vetoed Memo 245
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See fiscal note.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments to
subdivision a of section 603 of the retirement and social security law
made by section two of this act shall not affect the expiration of such
subdivision and shall be deemed to expire therewith.