STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10394
IN SENATE
May 15, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. BORRELLO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT in relation to authorizing Michael Hall to file a request for
change of benefit coverage with the New York state teachers' retire-
ment system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Michael Hall,
2 who is currently a member of the New York state teachers' retirement
3 system, who retired from Oakfield-Alabama Combined School District on
4 January 31, 2004, and who since his date of retirement has been receiv-
5 ing a reduced retirement benefit election pursuant to designating his
6 wife, Bonnie L. Hall, under a survivor option and electing her as his
7 irrevocable beneficiary, and who, for reasons not ascribable to his own
8 negligence, even upon notice in 2004 from the retirement system of his
9 election of the reduced retirement benefit election designating his wife
10 Bonnie L. Hall under a survivor option and electing her as his irrev-
11 ocable beneficiary, failed to change his retirement option election
12 prior to the expiration of the thirty days in accordance with article 11
13 of the education law and to elect for the maximum retirement benefit
14 option, shall be authorized to change said reduced retirement benefit
15 option designating his wife, Bonnie L. Hall under a survivor option and
16 electing her as his irrevocable beneficiary to the maximum retirement
17 option, if within one year of the effective date of this act, he shall
18 file a written request on a form prescribed by the New York state teach-
19 ers' retirement system with the head of said retirement system. Such
20 change of benefit coverage shall be deemed to become effective on Janu-
21 ary 31, 2004.
22 § 2. Any costs attributable to implementation of the retirement
23 election option change, authorized by section one of this act, shall be
24 borne by the employers of members of the New York state teachers'
25 retirement system.
26 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15225-03-6
S. 10394 2
Bill Description:
This fiscal note is prepared for legislative bill draft #15225-02-6.
This bill would authorize Michael Hall, a retired member of the New York
State Teacher's Retirement System (NYSTRS), who elected the 100% joint
and survivor option benefit to change his option election to the maximum
single life benefit effective as of his date of retirement, January 31,
2004. The increase in pension benefit will be paid retroactively to this
date. Michael Hall must file a written request with the head of NYSTRS
within one year of the effective date of this act.
Cost and Current Law:
The cost of this benefit is equal to the increase in the present value
of liabilities, which is estimated to be $211,000. This cost would be
borne by the employers of members of the New York State Teachers'
Retirement System. Allowing retired members to change their benefit
option after retirement weakens the pooling of longevity risk and the
pricing of the options and would result in actuarial losses.
Under current law, benefit option elections are generally irrevocable
after retirement. Allowing post-retirement changes for individual
members may introduce considerations regarding consistent application of
such provisions across the membership.
Data:
Member data as of June 30, 2025, prepared for the most recent actuari-
al valuation was used in determining this cost. The most recent data
distributions and statistics can be found in the System's Annual Report
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. System assets are as reported
in the System's financial statements which can be found in the System's
Annual Report. This data will also be provided in the System's Actuarial
Valuation Report as of June 30, 2025.
Methods and Assumptions:
A summary of actuarial assumptions and methods will be provided in the
System's Actuarial Valuation Report as of June 30, 2025. Further details
can be found in the most recent Recommended Actuarial Assumptions 2025
Report.
Actuarial Certification:
We, the undersigned actuaries for the New York State Teachers' Retire-
ment System, certify the following:
1. The actuarial assumptions, methods, and data used are reasonable
for the purposes of this fiscal note, internally consistent and are in
accordance with standards of practice prescribed by the Actuarial Stand-
ards Board and generally accepted actuarial principles and procedures.
2. We relied on member data supplied by the participating employers of
the New York State Teachers' Retirement System and assets as supplied in
the annual Financial Statements by NYSTRS' Finance Department.
3. Results were prepared based on our current understanding of the
proposal as of the date of this fiscal note. If the language or our
understanding of the proposal changes, the results could change and
require the issuance of a new fiscal note. The next annual update of the
actuarial valuation could also produce different results. Results should
not be relied upon for any other purpose.
4. This fiscal note was prepared in accordance with New York State
Retirement and Social Security Law, New York State Education Law, appli-
cable Internal Revenue Code, and accepted actuarial standards of prac-
tice as of the date of this fiscal note. This fiscal note does not
constitute a legal opinion on the viability of this legislative
proposal.
S. 10394 3
5. We are members of the American Academy of Actuaries and the Society
of Actuaries, and we meet the Qualification Standards of the American
Academy of Actuaries to render the actuarial opinion contained herein.
We are currently compliant with the Continuing Professional Development
Requirement of the Society of Actuaries.
Fiscal Note Identification:
This Fiscal Note, 2026-40, dated April 4, 2026, was prepared by the
Office of the Actuary of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System
and is intended for use only during the 2026 Legislative Session.
