A04905 Summary:

BILL NO    A04905A

SAME AS    Same as S 2343-A

SPONSOR    Markey

COSPNSR    Reilly, Spano, Weisenberg, Colton, Robinson, Titone, DenDekker, John,
           Jaffee, Cook, Pheffer, Schimel, Zebrowski, Millman, Gordon,
           Eddington, Hooper

MLTSPNSR   Gabryszak, Gunther, Hyer-Spencer, Maisel, Meng, Russell, Sweeney,
           Titus

Amd S208-f, Gen Muni L; amd S361-a, R & SS L

Increases the salary used in the computation of the special accidental death
benefit in cases where the date of death was before 2009; applies to surviving
spouse and child benefits of certain police and fire personnel.

A04905 Actions:

BILL NO    A04905A

02/06/2009 referred to governmental employees
03/24/2009 reported referred to ways and means
05/01/2009 amend and recommit to ways and means
05/01/2009 print number 4905a
05/19/2009 reported 
05/21/2009 advanced to third reading cal.611
05/26/2009 passed assembly
05/26/2009 delivered to senate
05/26/2009 REFERRED TO FINANCE
07/16/2009 SUBSTITUTED FOR S2343A
07/16/2009 3RD READING CAL.897
07/16/2009 PASSED SENATE
07/16/2009 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
07/31/2009 delivered to governor
08/11/2009 signed chap.305

A04905 Votes:

BILL: A04905A DATE: 05/26/2009  MOTION:                       YEA/NAY: 134/008

Abbate  Y  Cahill  Y  Errigo  Y  Hyer-Sp Y  Mayerso ER Quinn   Y  Stirpe  Y
Alessi  Y  Calhoun Y  Espaill Y  Jacobs  Y  McDonou Y  Rabbitt Y  Sweeney Y
Alfano  Y  Camara  ER Farrell Y  Jaffee  Y  McEneny Y  Raia    Y  Tedisco Y
Amedore Y  Canestr Y  Fields  Y  Jeffrie Y  McKevit Y  Ramos   Y  Thiele  Y
Arroyo  Y  Carrozz Y  Finch   Y  John    Y  Meng    Y  Reilich Y  Titone  Y
Aubry   Y  Castro  Y  Fitzpat Y  Jordan  Y  Miller  Y  Reilly  Y  Titus   Y
Bacalle Y  Christe Y  Gabrysz Y  Kavanag NO Millman Y  Rive J  Y  Tobacco Y
Ball    Y  Clark   ER Galef   Y  Kellner NO Molinar Y  Rive N  Y  Towns   Y
Barclay Y  Colton  Y  Gantt   Y  Kolb    Y  Morelle Y  Rive PM Y  Townsen Y
Barra   Y  Conte   Y  Gianari Y  Koon    Y  Nolan   Y  Robinso Y  Walker  ER
Barron  Y  Cook    Y  Giglio  Y  Lancman Y  Oaks    Y  Rosenth Y  Weinste Y
Benedet Y  Corwin  Y  Glick   NO Latimer Y  O'Donne NO Russell Y  Weisenb Y
Benjami Y  Crouch  Y  Gordon  Y  Lavine  Y  O'Mara  Y  Saladin Y  Weprin  Y
Bing    Y  Cusick  Y  Gottfri NO Lentol  Y  Ortiz   Y  Sayward Y  Wright  Y
Boyland Y  Cymbrow Y  Gunther Y  Lifton  Y  Parment Y  Scarbor Y  Zebrows Y
Boyle   ER DelMont Y  Hawley  Y  Lope PD Y  Paulin  Y  Schimel Y  Mr Spkr Y
Bradley Y  DenDekk Y  Hayes   Y  Lope VJ ER Peoples NO Schimmi Y
Brennan Y  Destito Y  Heastie Y  Lupardo Y  Peralta Y  Schroed Y
Brodsky Y  Dinowit Y  Hevesi  NO Magee   Y  Perry   Y  Scozzaf Y
Brook-K Y  Duprey  Y  Hikind  Y  Magnare Y  Pheffer Y  Seminer Y
Burling Y  Eddingt NO Hooper  Y  Maisel  Y  Powell  Y  Skartad Y
Butler  Y  Englebr Y  Hoyt    Y  Markey  Y  Pretlow Y  Spano   Y

A04905 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A4905A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law and the retirement and social
security law, in relation to increasing certain special accidental death
benefits

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation extends the escalation of a cost of living increase of
approximately 3% for all line-of-duty widows or widowers for fiscal year
2009-10.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends subdivision c of section 208-f of the General Municipal
Law as amended by Chapter 76 of the Laws of 2008 and subdivision c of
section 361-a of the Retirement and Social Security Law, as amended by
Chapter 76 of the Laws of 2008.

JUSTIFICATION:
Since 1978, the Legislature has passed and the Governor signed into law
a cost of living increase and a one-year escalation for all New York
State widows and widowers of police officers and firefighters killed in
the line-of-duty. The intent of the original 1978 law was to increase
their benefits to an amount that would reflect the impact of inflation.
However, the law did not provide for any new cost of living increase
after July 1, 1979.

Since that date, the cost of living has increased well over 3% each
year, including some periods of double-digit inflation. These same
widows and widowers are no longer receiving adequate benefits. This
legislation does not totally cover the present inflation spiral, but it
at least provides some increased relief to the widows and widowers of
New York State's bravest citizens, who gave their lives in service to
the people of New York State. In the past, these brave families have
faced a poverty stricken existence. This legislation would prevent the
return of that deplorable state of affairs.

As with previous legislation, there is no cost to the localities, as the
state would reimburse them for this small increase.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
1997-- S.4243/A.7546 Chapter 174
1998-- S.630/A.9487-A Chapter 31
1999-- S.3158-B/A.5942-B Chapter 132
2000-- A.9895/S.6866-A Chapter 231
2001-- A.6606A/S.3297-A Chapter 264
2002-- A.11090/S.7263 Chapter 313
2003-- A.5435/S.3903 Chapter 139
2004-- A.10193-C/S.6579-C Chapter 351
2005-- A.5217/S.3971-C Chapter 48
2006-- A.10334/S.6744 Chapter 88

2007-- A.5658/S.2492 Chapter 39
2008 - A.9666/S.6733 Chapter 76

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Insofar as this bill would amend the Retirement and Social Security law,
it is estimated that there would be an additional annual cost of approx-
imately  $322,000  above  the  approximately $7.1 million current annual
cost of this benefit. This cost would be shared by the State of New York
and all participating employers of the New York State and  Local  Police
and Fire Retirement System.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.