BILL NUMBER: S9076
SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law and the retirement and social
security law, in relation to increasing the special accidental death
benefit of certain deceased members
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase certain Special Accidental Death Benefits (SADB) for surviv-
ing spouses, dependent children, and certain other eligible benefici-
aries of former uniformed employees of the City of New York and the New
York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and for certain former
employees of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, who were
members of certain New York City retirement systems and pension funds
and died as a natural and proximate result of an accident sustained in
the performance of duty.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subdivision c of section 208-f of the General Municipal
Law to increase the amount paid of accidental death benefits to widows
or their dependent children.
Section 2 amends subdivision c of section 361-a of the Retirement and
Social Security Law to increase the amount paid of accidental death
benefits to widows or their dependent children.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Since 1978, the Legislature has passed and the Governor signed into law
a cost of living increase and a one-year escalation for all New York
state widows and widowers of police officers and firefighters killed in
the line-of-duty. The intent of the original 1978 law was to increase
their benefits to an amount that would reflect the impact of inflation.
However, the law did not provide for any new cost of living increase
after July 1, 1979. Since that date, the cost of living has increased
well over 3% each year, including some periods of double-digit
inflation. These same widows and widowers are no longer receiving
adequate benefits. This legislation does not totally cover the present
inflation spiral, but it at least provides some increased relief to the
widows and widowers of New York State's bravest citizens, who gave their
lives in service to the people of New York State. In the past, these
brave families have faced a poverty-stricken existence. This legislation
would prevent the return of that deplorable state of affairs.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: Chapter 213
2022: Chapter 528
2021: Chapter 327
2020: Chapter 58/Item NNN of Subpart B of Part XXX of TED
2019: Chapter 382
2018: Chapter 179
2017: Chapter 76
2016: Chapter 347
2015: Chapter 23
2014: Chapter 104
2013: Chapter 196
2012: Chapter 285
2011: Chapter 161
2010: Chapter 439
2009: Chapter 305
2008: Chapter 76
2007: Chapter 39
2006: Chapter 88
2005: Chapter 48
2004: Chapter 351
2003: Chapter 139
2002: Chapter 313
2001: Chapter 264
2000: Chapter 231
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See bill
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect July 1st, 2024.

Statutes affected:
S9076: 208-f general municipal law, 208-f(c) general municipal law