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Suffolk Legislature approves Home Rule Message seeking disability retirement benefits for deceased Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber
Summary
The Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved a Home Rule Message asking the State to adopt legislation allowing the late Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber’s surviving spouse, Stacie Stueber, to receive disability retirement benefits tied to his World Trade Center rescue and recovery service (Senate Bill S.8024B / Assembly Bill A.8645A).
The Suffolk County Legislature on June 12 approved Home Rule Message No. 3-2025, requesting that the State of New York adopt an act to provide disability retirement benefits to the surviving spouse of the late Deputy Sheriff Richard Stueber, a participant in World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean-up operations. The measure cites Senate Bill S.8024B and Assembly Bill A.8645A.
Presiding Officer McCaffrey said the Legislature had handled similar cases before and turned to county counsel for clarification. "We've already done this. This is — my understanding is, and I'll — I'll defer to Counsel; that's always better. We already passed this once," McCaffrey said.
County Counsel Duffy explained why the home rule message is used in these cases: "We have done this in the past for other officers that became sick after retirement and died because of their work on the pile. So now we have — they didn't get the disability when they retired because they weren't sick yet," Duffy said.
Legislator Bergin asked for clarification on the process and why the measure was necessary. Legislator Donnelly was recorded as the motion maker and Legislator Kennedy as the second. Clerk Guy Calla announced the result as "Seventeen" in favor (Absent: Legislator Gonzalez). The motion was approved.
The Home Rule Message, as approved by the Legislature, is a formal request that the State Legislature consider the cited bills. The County's action does not itself grant benefits; it asks the State to adopt enabling legislation so the surviving spouse may be eligible for disability retirement on her late husband's behalf.
The Legislature took no further related actions at the special meeting; the matter will proceed at the state level if the referenced bills advance there.
