BILL NUMBER: S7817
SPONSOR: BASKIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to authorize the widow of William James Middlebrooks to file a
retirement option election form
 
PURPOSE:
To allow Janice Middlebrooks to file an option election form on behalf
of her deceased husband William James Middlebrooks.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides that Janice Middlebrooks is authorized to file an
election option form on behalf of her late husband, William James
Middlebrooks who was an employee at the Albion Correctional Facility
until he was diagnosed with cancer. It allows Janice Middlebrooks to
file an ordinary disability claim on behalf of her late husband with a
retirement date of November 1, 2004 and that the benefits will continue
to Janice Middlebrooks for her lifetime Immediate past service cost of
approximately $456,000 will be shared by the State of New York and all
participating employers in the New York State and Local Employees'
Retirement System.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This act is designed to provide financially assistance to the widow of
William James Middlebrooks, a New York State employee, whose dedicated
years of service was an asset to the Albion Correctional Facility and
passed away after his battle of cancer in 2006. This act will therefore
provide Ms. Middlebrooks with the fiscal support intended for use by Mr.
Middlebrooks for retirement benefits, which ceased upon his passing and
when reinstated will be used by Ms. Middlebrooks for the remainder of
her lifetime.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A7709A - 2011/2012
A3704 - 2013/2014
A6100A - 2015/2016
S.4752/A5462 - 2017/2018
S.3759/A6836 - 2019/2020 S.4860A/A.4778A - 2021/22
S.5633-A/A7222-A - 2023/2024
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50: This bill would authorize
Janice Middlebrooks to file an ordinary disability application with a
date of retirement of November 1, 2004 and an option election form with
a joint allowance full option on behalf of her deceased husband William
James Middlebrooks. Mr. Middlebrooks received a disability retirement
which was paid beginning on 3/28/2005. Upon his death all payments
ceased because no option election form was filed. By filing the disabil-
ity application and an option election form, an additional benefit will
be paid for the period 11/1/04 - 3/28/05 and a benefit will continue to
Janice Middlebrooks for her lifetime.
If this bill is enacted, there will be an immediate past service cost of
approximately $472,000 which will be shared by the State of New York and
all of the participating employers in the New York State and Local
Employees' Retirement System. See Fiscal Note.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.