S 4554 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to World Trade Center benefits

This bill (S 4554) modifies New York City's pension rules to streamline benefits for police officers and firefighters who participated in World Trade Center rescue efforts. It creates a presumption that members with qualifying health conditions (like respiratory illnesses linked to WTC exposure) developed their disability during service, provided they filed a timely notice of participation. The presumption means the pension board must reclassify their retirement as "accidental disability" without changing their retirement option, unless the employer proves otherwise. This directly affects NYC police pension fund members who worked at the WTC site and later developed health conditions recognized under the law.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Signed Sep 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S4554 S4554A · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends the administrative code to remove the World Trade Center verification requirement for certain police pension members, allowing them to receive WTC benefits by simply filing a sworn notice of participation. The change expands eligibility for benefits to more police members who served in the area, eliminating the need for medical verification in some cases.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligibility for World Trade Center benefits to include all police members who timely file a Notice of Participation, rather than requiring verification of disability conditions.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement for police members to prove their disability was caused by WTC service through verification; now a sworn notice of participation is sufficient to establish eligibility for WTC benefits.

REQUIREMENT

Added a presumption that members who file a timely sworn notice of participation have a qualifying World Trade Center condition, unless proven otherwise by competent evidence.

FISCAL

Added fiscal analysis showing estimated increases in employer contributions due to expanded benefit eligibility, with costs projected over multiple fiscal years.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from S 4554 to S 4554--A and added additional sponsors to the introduction line.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 13, 2025 · Assembly Jun 16, 2025

How they voted

590
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 63
Jun 13, 2025
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
21 Yea 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Sep 10, 2025
Signed into law
SIGNED CHAP.390
upper
Jun 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Jun 13, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
lower
Jun 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jun 12, 2025
Committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
May 20, 2025
Committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 4554A
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CITIES 1
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO CITIES 1
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors