BILL NUMBER: S7143
SPONSOR: RYAN S
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to
providing alternative retirement benefits for the police force at Erie
County Medical Center
 
PURPOSE::
This bill would permit police officers employed at Erie County Medical
Center to elect to transfer into a new, twenty-five-year retirement
plan.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1: amends the retirement and social security law by adding a new
section 89-y. Section 89-y creates a new, twenty-five-year early service
retirement plan available to members of the police force employed by
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC).
Section 2: amends subdivision a of section 455 of the retirement and
social security law to include police officers at ECMC among those indi-
viduals who may receive retirement benefits regardless of age, so long
as they have completed a sufficient number of years of service.
Section 3: amends section 603 of the retirement and social security law
by adding a new subdivision w. Subdivision w makes ECMC police officers
eligible to receive the retirement benefits described in section 604 of
the retirement and social security law, provided that they have met the
minimum service requirements and elect to participate in this retirement
plan.
Section 4: amends section 604 of the retirement and social security law
by adding a new subdivision w. Subdivision w specifies how pensions will
be calculated for ECMC police officers who participate in the new early
service retirement plan.
Section 5: establishes that Erie County Medical Center will pay for all
costs of implementing this retirement plan.
Section 6: effective date.
Fiscal note appended to the end of the bill.
 
JUSTIFICATION::
Police officers employed at the Erie County Medical Center routinely
face stressful, high-stakes working conditions: hospital officers make
dozens of arrests each year and respond to serious hospital security
matters, including incidents of violence between patients and hospital
staff. In the hospital's psychiatric unit alone, violent altercations
have caused injuries to staff more than once a week. The officers in the
hospital's police force are also responsible for protecting the hospi-
tal's vulnerable patient population from outside security risks and
threats. The specific security risks and complexities of the hospital
environment compound the stress already associated with policing, an
occupation associated with cardiovascular disease and PTSD, among other
health issues.
It is important that the benefits of a policing career at the Erie Coun-
ty Medical Center reflect the stress and difficulty of that career. A
new retirement plan for these police officers will acknowledge the
strenuous and dangerous work that these officers undertake throughout
their careers to protect the hospital community, and it will also bene-
fit the hospital itself. By increasing its retention of current police
officers at the ECMC, the hospital will keep experienced public safety
professionals on its staff and save the money it would otherwise have to
spend to hire and train new police officers. The new retirement benefits
will also make it easier for the hospital to attract new police talent
and to avoid the security risks of an understaffed hospital police
force.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
None to the state.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
If this bill is enacted, there is anticipated to be an increase of
approximately $250,000 in the annual contributions of Erie County
Medical Center for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.
In future years, the annual cost will vary based on rates and salaries
of affected members but is expected to average 6.0% of salary annually.
There will also be a one-time past service cost of approximately $1.32
million borne by Erie County Medical Center.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7143: 603 retirement and social security law, 604 retirement and social security law