BILL NUMBER: S6432
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to provide pension benefits to the widow of deceased firefighter
Derek Floyd
 
PURPOSE:
To provide survivor benefits to the widow of FDNY firefighter Derek
Floyd
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 vests Derek Floyd in the New York city fire pension fund
Section 2 provides that all costs are incurred by the New York city fire
department
Section 3 is the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Derek Floyd, who heroically served our Nation in the Marines, continued
his life of service by enrolling in the FDNY academy. While in academy,
he was diagnosed with a disqualifying heart condition, resulting in his
receiving a civilian assignment. In November 2023, Floyd was terminated
a few months shy of pension eligibility. He died in April 2024, leaving
his wife and two young children with no source of income. Had Floyd
still been employed in the FDNY, his widow would have been entitled to
$300,000 in survivor benefits.
This bill retroactively vests Derek Floyd in the Fire Department Pension
Fund, in order to provide his family with needed support in their time
of mourning, and show our profound gratitude for his service to our
Nation and State.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.9638 - Referred to Civil Service and Pensions/A.10265
Referred to Governmental Employees
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
See fiscal note.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.