BILL NUMBER: S7340
SPONSOR: WEIK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act authorizing Michael J. Cappiello to purchase service credit for
service with the Long Island Railroad Company police department
 
PURPOSE:
To grant Michael J. Cappiello the ability to transfer up to three years
of service credit with the Long Island Railroad Company police depart-
ment to the State and Local police and fire retirement system.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Permits Mr. Cappiello the ability to transfer up to three
years of service credit with the Long Island Railroad Company police
department to the New York state and local police and fire retirement
system.
Section 2: Provides that all past service costs shall be borne by the
State.
Section 3: Sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Michael J. Cappiello was an officer of the Long Island Railroad Company
police department ("LIRRPD") for two and one-half years until 1995. At
that time, the LIRRPD was part of the Federal Railroad Retirement
System. After his employment with the LIRRPD, Mr. Cappiello joined the
Suffolk County police department, which is part of the New York state
and local police and fire retirement system ("State System"), where he
has been employed continuously.
In 1998, the LIRRPD and the Metro North Railroad police departments were
consolidated into the MTA Police Retirement Program ("MTA Plan"). The
MTA Plan is a defined benefit pension plan that is not part of the State
System. In 2015, the Legislature passed a statute that permitted employ-
ees of the MTA Plan, i.e., LIRRPD employees employed on or after 1998,
to transfer their service time in the MTA Plan to the State System
(Chapter 533, Laws 2015). As Mr. Cappiello left the LIRRPD before 1998,
and was therefore never part of the MTA Plan, he was, and still is,
unable to transfer his LIRRPD time to the State System.
This legislation would permit Mr. Cappiello to transfer and credit up to
three years of service time in the LIRRPD to the State System.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023 S6912A Civil Service and Pensions
2022 S6302A Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See fiscal note.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.