Asm. Stacey Pheffer Amato

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New York State's Retirement and Social Security Law to allow New York City correction officers to apply for disability benefits without needing ten years of service. Previously, officers required at least a decade of service to file such claims. The key change removes this service requirement specifically for uniformed personnel in the NYC Department of Correction. The law now permits these officers to file disability applications immediately upon becoming eligible, regardless of their tenure. This directly affects NYC correction officers seeking disability benefits.

Maddy summaryBill A 8082 establishes a new retirement service credit for members of public retirement systems who have served as volunteer firefighters or emergency service personnel. Eligible members can receive one year of service credit for every five years of volunteer service, up to a maximum of three years of credit for fifteen years of service. To qualify, members must have at least five years of other credited service and pay a fee equivalent to three percent of their compensation for the twelve months prior to application, for each year of credited volunteer service. This credit can be applied towards special twenty or twenty-five year retirement plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces longevity bonuses for New York City firefighters who retire after 25 years of service. It directly affects firefighters in the New York City Fire Department who meet the service requirement and choose to retire. Under the new provisions, eligible retirees receive an initial 5% of their highest retirement pay added to their pension calculation, with an additional 1% for each year of service beyond 25 years up to a maximum of 15% at 35 years. The changes apply to pension benefit computations and take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an optional 25-year retirement plan specifically for county and municipal airport firefighters who handle aircraft rescue and firefighting duties. Under the new provisions, eligible firefighters can retire after completing 25 years of service to receive a pension equal to half their final average salary, with potential increases for additional years of service up to a maximum of three-quarters of their final salary. The plan is not automatic; it requires the employer to vote to adopt it and pay the associated costs, and it applies only to those whose employers make this election. Airport firefighters who do not retire under this new plan can still use their service credit toward other retirement plans available to them.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Didarul Islam police recruitment act, allows certain New York City public safety workers to count their prior service toward their New York City police pension fund. It specifically includes time spent as school safety agents, corrections officers, traffic enforcement agents, or police cadets before joining the uniformed police force. To qualify, members must transfer their contributions from the city employees' retirement system to the police pension fund and pay any required interest. The change applies immediately and affects those eligible for police pension benefits who previously worked in related city safety roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New York State Park Police as an independent law enforcement agency under the direct supervision of the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The new police force will operate separately from the New York State Police, though it can coordinate with other agencies for training and emergency response. The legislation also establishes specific retirement rules for existing park police officers based on their years of service and age. These changes affect current regional park police members and define the operational structure of the state park police system.

Provides notification of employment or promotion of applicable employees to organizations of state employees designated managerial or confidential for purposes of employee representation in determining the terms and conditions of employment.

Establishes a mandatory statewide, classroom-based water safety education program; provides that the commissioner of education shall work with New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance certified educators to develop and promulgate a statewide, age-appropriate, classroom-based water safety education guidance document; provides that within twenty-four months of the effective date of the bill, the department of education shall initiate statewide implementation of water safety education; provides that instruction shall be classroom-based and waterless and shall not require student access to aquatic facilities, swimming instruction, or in-water assessment.

Extends the benefits of the variable supplements fund for transit police members of the New York city employees' retirement system for persons who retired on or after October 1, 1968.

Authorizes municipalities to offer a real property tax exemption for combat zone service members who at any time during the taxable year performed active duty in the armed forces in a combat zone; defines terms; makes related provisions.