BILL NUMBER: S8537
SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to extending the benefits of the variable supplements fund to
all New York city police officers, firefighters, housing police, transit
police, correction officers and registered domestic partners
 
PURPOSE:
To extend the benefits of the variable supplements fund to all New York
city police officers, firefighters, housing police, transit police,
correction officers and their registered domestic partners.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation adds subdivision (g) to SS 13-271 and 13-281 of the
Administrative Code of the City of New York which would add all police
officers who are ineligible for the variable supplements fund. This
includes all disabled and vested New York City police officers and line
of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vest-
ed in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivi-
sion.
The Administrative Code of the City of New York is amended by adding a
new subdivision (i) to § 13-385 and subdivision (f) to § 13-395 to add
all firefighters who are ineligible for the variable supplement fund.
This includes all disabled and vested. New York City firefighters and
line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who
vested in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdi-
vision. The Administrative Code of the City of New York is amended by
adding a new paragraph (i) to subdivision 4 of § 13-191 and a new para-
graph (h) to subdivision 4 of § 13-192 to add all transit police offi-
cers who are ineligible for the variable supplement fund. This includes
all disabled and vested New York City transit police officers and line
of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vest-
ed in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivi-
sion. The Administrative Code of the City of New York is amended by
adding a new paragraph (i) to subdivision 4 of § 13-191 and a new para-
graph (h) to subdivision 4 of § 13-192 to add all housing police offi-
cers who are ineligible for the variable supplement fund. This includes
all disabled and vested New York City housing police officers and line
of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who vest-
ed in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdivi-
sion.
This legislation adds subdivision (h) to § 13-194 of the Administrative
Code of the City of New York which would add all correction officer
members who are ineligible for the variable supplements fund. This
includes all disabled and vested New York City correction8 officers and
line of duty widows and widowers, and registered domestic partners, who
vested in a retirement system prior to the effective date of this subdi-
vision.
 
EXISTING LAW:
New Law
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The current variable supplement fund is only available to those officers
who retire after 20 years of service. Anyone who retired with a disabil-
ity pension has been excluded. All retirees should be treated equally,
therefore this bill would provide the variable supplement benefit to all
retired police officers, firefighters, housing police, transit police
and registered domestic partners from the effective date into the
future. Former members of the NYC Housing and Transit Police that
retired for service after June 30, 1987 presently receive a supplemental
benefit from the Variable Supplements Fund (hereinafter referred to as
the "VSF"). The VSF was enacted into law as a result of a fact-finders
award in 1970 and was granted to members of the NYC Police and Fire
pension funds that retired for service after October 1, 1968.
In the mid-1960s members of the Housing and Transit Police were granted
and given pay and retirement benefit parity. However, the VSF was not
bestowed upon similarly situated members of those two departments until
legislation was enacted effective after June 30, 1987, As a matter of
equity and fairness, the VSF should be granted to all members of the
Housing and Transit Police that retired for service subsequent to Octo-
ber 1, 1968.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22 REFERRED TO SENATE CITIES
2019-20 REFERRED TO SENATE CITIES
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.