BILL NUMBER: S4326
SPONSOR: GALLIVAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act granting Lawrence Korzeniewski, the statutory beneficiary of
Janice Korzeniewski, accidental death benefits
 
PURPOSE:
This bill permits Lawrence Korzeniewski, the statutory beneficiary of
Janice Korzeniewski, to change the retirement benefit to an accidental
death benefit.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Makes Lawrence Korzeniewski eligible to request conversion of
Janice Korzeniewski's retirement benefit into accidental death benefit
by means of filing a written request with the state comptroller for such
to be the case within one year of the passage of this act.
Section 2. Assumes all past service costs for implementing Section 1 of
the act to the state of New York.
Section 3. Establishes effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic caused the state of New York to pass
Chapter 89 of the laws of 2020, which provided for an accidental death
benefit to active members of the New York State and Local Retirement
System directed to be present in their normal workplace or assigned
workplace on or after March 1, 2020 and who subsequently died from
COVID-19 as a result of being exposed to illness while in the workplace.
Janice Korzeniewski was such an employee in the Town of Lancaster. She
suffered a stroke and formally retired in August of 2020 before passing
away in October of that year. This legislation recognizes her long and
faithful service to the people of the State of New York by correcting a
deficiency of Chapter 89 of the laws of 2020 to grant Janice
Korzeniewski's widower, Lawrence Korzeniewski, the option to apply for
and receive an accidental death benefit on behalf of his wife.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.5021A/A.5824A Referred to Civil Service and Pensions/Referred
to Governmental Employees
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See fiscal note.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.