BILL NUMBER: S8148B
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to
providing a heart disease presumption for certain members employed by
the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority
 
PURPOSE:
Provides a heart disease presumption for certain members employed by the
Triborough bridge and tunnel authority
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 creates a new Section 607-m of the retirement and social secu-
rity law to provide that any heart disease that impairs the health of a
member in the employ of the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority as a
bridge and tunnel officer, Sergeant or lieutenant in a non-managerial
position or any retired Member of such authority who has been retired
directly from service as a Bridge and tunnel officer, sergeant or lieu-
tenant in a non-managerial Position for five or less years is presump-
tive evidence that the illness was acquired during the performance and
discharge of their duties. Such member will also be entitled to retire
on a pension equal to three quarters of their final average salary.
Section 2 provides that all past service costs associated with imple-
menting the provisions of this act shall be borne by the city of New
York.
Section 3 provides that none of the provisions of this act shall be
subject to the appropriation requirement of section twenty-five of this
chapter.
Section 4 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) Bridge and Tunnel Offi-
cers, Sergeants and Lieutenants serve the people of the State of New
York providing the highest level of professionalism, safety and security
at the bridges and tunnels owned and operated by TBTA, including MTA
Bridges and Tunnels and the surrounding areas and roadways connecting to
them. Though rare, it does happen that Bridge and Tunnel Officers,
Sergeants and Lieutenants are rendered seriously and permanently disa-
bled due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. While such instances
occur infrequently, they are nonetheless devastating to the Uniformed
Member of Service involved, their spouses and their children.
TBTA Officers, Sergeants and lieutenants respond to and perform work in
varying types of situations, from at the desk inside of the adminis-
tration building performing administrative duties, to high stress situ-
ations on the bridges, Tunnels, Highways and local streets performing
Law Enforcement duties. They respond to these situations in Marked
Department Police vehicles. They perform their duties on active bridge
and tunnel roadways, active highways and city streets conducting high
stress traffic stops multiple times throughout their tour of duty as
well as monitoring the roadways, entrances and exits to the Bridges and
Tunnels for safety and security concerns to ensure the safe passage of
the motoring public. TBTA Officers, Sergeants and Lieutenants are
trained in First Aid, CPR, Radiation Detection (primary and secondary
screening) as well as all other aspects of Police work. They are NYS
Peace Officers and are trained well beyond the required training by the
State of New York.
TBTA Officers, Sergeants and Lieutenants are an aging workforce that has
been downsized tremendously. The average is 49, and the Uniformed force
has been downsized from approximately 1200 to approximately 300. The
workload has not been downsized and therefore complications due to
diseases of the heart are likely for the Uniformed Members of Service.
It should be noted that Peace/ police Officers conducting similar roles
in Public Safety have been afforded 75% pensions for any condition of
impairment of health caused by diseases of the heart. This bill will
provide appropriate protection for Bridge and Tunnel Officers,
Sergeants, Lieutenants and their families in the event of a serious
condition caused by a disease of the heart brought on by the high stress
work that these Uniformed Members of Service perform.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: S.8148A - Amended and recommitted to Civil Service and
Pensions/A.8797 - Referred to Governmental Employees
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See fiscal note.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.