BILL NUMBER: S1988
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to
establishing a retirement benefit review panel
 
PURPOSE:
Establishes a retirement benefit review panel.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 sets the guidelines for the creation of the retirement benefit
review panel.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
James G. Lynch worked for the Department of Transportation for twenty-
five years when he began the process to retire. He requested the paper-
work to start the process, but fell ill before he could submit the
forms. What was believed to be pneumonia, turned out to be lung cancer,
and Mr. Lynch passed away on June 13, 2016- three days after signing his
retirement paperwork in the presence of a notary.
His wife, Judy Lynch, has been working tirelessly to resolve the retire-
ment settlement. The paperwork that was signed turned out to be prelimi-
nary, and the actual retirement papers had never been given to Mr.
Lynch, given he could not be granted a retirement date posthumously.
This is just one narrative; yearly the legislation is asked to pass
personalized bills for those who have issues pertaining to retirement.
This process is often long and often ineffective.
Creating a retirement board gives those like Mrs. Lynch an opportunity
to plead their case to someone skillful in the retirement system.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S2097/A374 - Died in Civil Service and Pensions
2021-2022: S4356/A10125 - Died in Civil Service and Pensions/Died in
Governmental Employees
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such date.