S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7754
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 16, 2011
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Introduced by M. of A. TENNEY, BLANKENBUSH, CALHOUN -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. McLAUGHLIN, PALMESANO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the creation
and funding of other post-employment benefit reserve funds, and
extending to boards of cooperative educational services the authority
to create and maintain workers' compensation reserve funds
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new
section 6-a to read as follows:
S 6-A. OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUNDS. 1. AS USED IN THIS
SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
A. "MUNICIPAL CORPORATION" MEANS (I) A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AS
DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THIS CHAPTER; (II) A SCHOOL DISTRICT (EXCEPT A
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE
THOUSAND OR MORE); (III) A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES;
(IV) FIRE DISTRICT; (V) DISTRICT CORPORATION; (VI) POLICE DISTRICT; AND
(VII) SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT GOVERNED BY A SEPARATE BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS.
B. "OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT" MEANS ANY BENEFIT OTHER THAN A
PENSION BENEFIT THAT A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IS OBLIGATED BY CONTRACT,
LOCAL LAW, OR STATUTE TO PAY TO, OR ON BEHALF OF, AN INDIVIDUAL ON
ACCOUNT OF THAT INDIVIDUAL'S PRIOR EMPLOYMENT BY THE MUNICIPAL CORPO-
RATION, INCLUDING POST-EMPLOYMENT HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, REGARDLESS OF THE
TYPE OF PLAN THAT PROVIDES THEM, BUT EXCLUDING TERMINATION BENEFITS SUCH
AS THOSE DESCRIBED IN SECTION SIX-P OF THIS ARTICLE.
C. "PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER" MEANS A PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER AS DEFINED
IN EITHER SUBDIVISION TWENTY OF SECTION TWO OR IN SUBDIVISION TWENTY OF
SECTION THREE HUNDRED TWO OF THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10798-01-1
A. 7754 2
2. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF ANY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION WHICH IS ALSO A
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER MAY ESTABLISH BY RESOLUTION A RESERVE FUND FOR
THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
3. THERE MAY BE PAID INTO AN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE
FUND:
A. SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE PROVIDED THEREFOR BY BUDGETARY APPROPRIATION
OR RAISED BY TAX THEREFOR;
B. SUCH REVENUES AS ARE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE PAID INTO ANY OTHER
FUND OR ACCOUNT;
C. SUCH OTHER FUNDS AS MAY BE LEGALLY APPROPRIATED; AND
D. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, SUCH AMOUNTS AS MAY BE
TRANSFERRED FROM A RESERVE FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX-C,
SIX-D, SIX-E, SIX-F, SIX-G, SIX-J, SIX-M, SIX-N, OR SIX-P OF THIS ARTI-
CLE COMPRISED OF MONEYS RAISED FROM THE SAME TAX BASE AS THE MONEYS IN
THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND, OR A RESERVE FUND ESTAB-
LISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THE EDUCATION
LAW, PROVIDED, THAT ANY SUCH TRANSFER SHALL ONLY BE MADE BY RESOLUTION
OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ADOPTED AFTER A
PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON AT LEAST FIFTEEN DAYS PRIOR PUBLISHED NOTICE IN
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OR, IF THE MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, IN AT LEAST ONE NEWSPA-
PER HAVING GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AREA.
4. THE MONEYS IN AN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND SHALL
BE DEPOSITED AND SECURED IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY SECTION TEN OF THIS
ARTICLE. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, OR THE CHIEF
FISCAL OFFICER THEREOF IF THE GOVERNING BOARD SHALL DELEGATE SUCH DUTY
TO HIM OR HER, MAY INVEST THE MONEYS IN SUCH FUND IN THE MANNER PROVIDED
BY SECTION ELEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE. ANY INTEREST EARNED OR CAPITAL GAIN
REALIZED ON THE MONEY SO DEPOSITED OR INVESTED SHALL ACCRUE TO AND
BECOME PART OF SUCH FUND.
5. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION BY RESOLUTION MAY
AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES FROM AN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE
FUND. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, MONEYS IN AN OTHER POST-EM-
PLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND MAY ONLY BE EXPENDED TO FINANCE OTHER
POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
6. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION BY RESOLUTION MAY
AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF A PORTION OF THE MONEYS IN AN OTHER POST-EM-
PLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND TO A RESERVE FUND OF THE MUNICIPAL CORPO-
RATION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX-C, SIX-D, SIX-E, SIX-F,
SIX-G, SIX-J, SIX-M, SIX-N, OR SIX-P OF THIS ARTICLE COMPRISED OF MONEYS
RAISED FROM THE SAME TAX BASE AS THE MONEYS IN THE RETIREMENT CONTRIB-
UTION RESERVE FUND, OR A RESERVE FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION
THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THE EDUCATION LAW, PROVIDED, THAT ANY
SUCH TRANSFER SHALL ONLY BE MADE BY RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF
SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ADOPTED AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON AT
LEAST FIFTEEN DAYS PRIOR PUBLISHED NOTICE IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF
THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OR, IF THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION DOES NOT HAVE
AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, IN AT LEAST ONE NEWSPAPER HAVING GENERAL CIRCU-
LATION IN THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AREA.
7. THE CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL
ACCOUNT FOR AN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND SEPARATE AND
APART FROM ALL OTHER FUNDS OF THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION. SUCH ACCOUNTING
SHALL SHOW: THE SOURCE, DATE AND AMOUNT OF EACH SUM PAID INTO THE FUND;
THE INTEREST EARNED BY SUCH FUND; CAPITAL GAINS OR LOSSES RESULTING FROM
THE SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THIS FUND; THE ORDER, PURPOSE THEREOF, DATE
AND AMOUNT OF EACH PAYMENT FROM THIS FUND; THE ASSETS OF THE FUND, INDI-
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CATING CASH BALANCE AND A SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. THE CHIEF FISCAL
OFFICER, WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR, SHALL FURNISH
A DETAILED REPORT OF THE OPERATION AND CONDITION OF THIS FUND TO THE
GOVERNING BOARD.
8. NO MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
SHALL:
A. AUTHORIZE A WITHDRAWAL FROM AN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
RESERVE FUND FOR ANY PURPOSE EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION; OR
B. EXPEND ANY MONEY WITHDRAWN FROM SUCH FUND FOR A PURPOSE OTHER THAN
AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.
ANY MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING BOARD WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
9. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION BY RESOLUTION MAY
DETERMINE THAT AN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND IS NO LONG-
ER NEEDED AND TERMINATE THE FUND. SUCH RESOLUTION SHALL TRANSFER ANY
MONEYS REMAINING IN SUCH FUND TO ONE OR MORE RESERVE FUNDS OF THE MUNIC-
IPAL CORPORATION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX-C, SIX-D, SIX-E,
SIX-F, SIX-G, SIX-J, SIX-M, SIX-N, OR SIX-P OF THIS ARTICLE COMPRISED OF
MONEYS RAISED FROM THE SAME TAX BASE AS THE MONEYS IN THE OTHER POST-EM-
PLOYMENT BENEFIT RESERVE FUND, OR ONE OR MORE RESERVE FUNDS ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
S 2. Section 6-j of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter
704 of the laws of 1956, subdivisions 1, 2, 4 and 6 as amended by chap-
ter 340 of the laws of 1973, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 140 of
the laws of 1996, and subdivision 5 as added and subdivision 6 as renum-
bered by chapter 433 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
S 6-j. [Workmen's] WORKERS' compensation reserve fund. 1. The govern-
ing board of any municipal corporation, school district, BOARD OF COOP-
ERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, or fire district, which is, or shall here-
after become a self-insurer under the provisions of section fifty,
subdivision four of the [workmen's] WORKERS' compensation law or section
thirty of the volunteer firemen's benefit law may establish a reserve
fund to be known as the [workmen's] WORKERS' compensation reserve fund
of such municipal corporation, school district, BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, or fire district.
2. There may be paid into any such fund (a) such amounts as may be
provided therefor by budgetary appropriations and (b) such other sums as
may be legally appropriated.
3. The moneys in such fund shall be deposited and secured in the
manner provided by section ten of this article. The money in such fund
so deposited shall be accounted for separate and apart from all other
funds of the municipality, school district, BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCA-
TIONAL SERVICES, or fire district, in the same manner as provided in
subdivision ten of section six-c of this article. The governing board,
or the chief fiscal officer of such municipality, school district, BOARD
OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, or fire district, if the governing
board shall delegate such duty to him, may invest the moneys in such
fund in the manner provided in section eleven of this article. Any
interest earned or capital gain realized on the money so deposited or
invested shall accrue to and become part of such fund. The separate
identity of such fund shall be maintained whether its assets consist of
cash or investments or both.
4. An expenditure shall be made from such fund only for the payment of
compensation and benefits, medical, hospital or other expense authorized
by article two of the [workmen's] WORKERS' compensation law and by the
volunteer firemen's benefit law and expenses of administering the self-
A. 7754 4
insurance program for such municipal corporation, school district, BOARD
OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, or fire district.
5. If at the end of any fiscal year the moneys in such fund shall
exceed the amounts required to be paid pursuant to subdivision four of
this section plus any additional amount required to pay all pending
claims, the governing board of the municipal corporation, school
district, board of cooperative educational services or fire district
may, within sixty days of the close of such fiscal year, elect to: (a)
transfer said excess, or any part thereof, to any fund authorized by
this article or section thirty-six hundred fifty-one of the education
law; and/or (b) apply said excess, or any part thereof to the budget
appropriation of the next succeeding fiscal year.
6. If the municipal corporation, school district, BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, or fire district shall, after the establishment of
such fund, cease to be a self-insurer, the moneys remaining in such fund
may be transferred to any other fund authorized by this chapter or
section thirty-six hundred fifty-one of the education law only to the
extent that the moneys in such fund shall exceed in amount the sum
sufficient to pay all expenditures authorized in paragraph numbered
four, both accrued and contingent.
S 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, within one hundred
eighty days of the effective date of this act, a municipal corporation
may be resolution transfer into an other post-employment benefits
reserve fund created in accordance with section 6-s of the general
municipal law any funds previously set aside by that municipal corpo-
ration and identified in the audited financial statements of that munic-
ipal corporation for the purpose of paying other post-employment bene-
fits as defined in section 6-s of the general municipal law, regardless
of how those funds have been designated.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.