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Senate Civil Service and Pensions committee advances nine bills on New York City retirement benefits; unanimous votes
Summary
The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions on March 18 approved nine bills amending retirement and civil service law for New York City employees. All measures passed unanimously and were referred to the Senate Finance Committee except one, which was reported to the Senate floor.
The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions advanced nine bills on March 18 that would amend state retirement and civil service law for New York City employees, voting unanimously on each measure.
The actions moved the measures either to the Senate Finance Committee or, in one case, to the Senate floor for further consideration. Committee Chair Senator Robert Jackson presided over the meeting and called each voice vote; every counted vote was 7–0 in favor where a tally was announced.
Why it matters: The bills would change eligibility and benefit provisions for various categories of New York City uniformed and civilian employees, including sanitation workers, court officers, correction officers, police and fire personnel, and participants in the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. Any changes, if enacted by the full Senate and signed by the governor, would alter retirement timing or benefits for those groups.
Votes at a glance: - S.1165A (sponsored by Senator Robert Jackson): Amend Civil Service Law to provide additional credits to children and siblings of deceased New York City sanitation members. Outcome: Approved by committee and reported to the Senate floor; vote recorded as unanimous in committee. - S.4598 (Sen. Jackson): Amend Retirement and Social Security Law to permit certain participants in the New York City Employees’ Retirement System to opt into a 25-year retirement plan for NYC EMS members. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. - S.4581: Authorize an optional 25-year retirement plan for uniform court officers and peace officers employed by the Unified Court System. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. - S.4666 (Sen. Jackson): Amend Retirement and Social Security Law relating to service-required retirement benefits for certain members of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. A committee member noted this bill recalled S.2710 (sponsored by Senator Scarcellus) concerning 20-year service retirement for New York City police officers and urged the committee to consider that related measure as well. - S.4667 (Sen. Jackson): Amend Retirement and Social Security Law relating to service retirement benefits for uniform sanitation members of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. - S.4706 (Sen. Jackson): Amend Retirement and Social Security Law relating to service retirement benefits for uniform correction members of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. - S.4727 (Sen. Jackson): Amend Retirement and Social Security Law relating to an unspecified retirement-age provision for police, fire and New York City Fire Department members. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. - S.4894 (Sen. Jackson): Amend Civil Service Law (paragraph g of subdivision 4 of section 209) relating to resolution of disputes in the course of collective negotiations. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote. - S.4901 (Sen. Jackson): Amend the Civil Service Court in relation to hearing officers. Outcome: Reported to Senate Finance; unanimous vote.
Discussion and committee process: Committee members asked few substantive questions during the session. One member commented that S.4666 drew attention to S.2710, a separate bill addressing 20-year service retirement for New York City police officers, and urged that related measure be brought before the committee. No amendments were offered on any item during the meeting. Most motions were voiced by Senator White and seconded by Senator McDonald in multiple instances; Chair Robert Jackson called the voice votes.
The committee recessed after completing the nine items and thanked legislative staff before adjourning.
Background: Several bills read during the session referenced changes to the state Retirement and Social Security Law and to the Civil Service Law; one item explicitly cited paragraph g of subdivision 4 of section 209 of the Civil Service Law. The measures affect participants in the New York City Employees’ Retirement System and uniformed personnel across multiple city agencies.
What’s next: Bills reported to Senate Finance will be considered by that committee. The measure the committee reported to the floor will be placed on the Senate calendar for further floor action.
