S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 1031--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             January 8, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  AVELLA, ADDABBO, BOYLE, CROCI, FLANAGAN, LAVALLE,
  MARCHIONE, MARTINS, SAVINO,  STAVISKY,  VENDITTO  --  read  twice  and
  ordered  printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
  Civil Service and Pensions  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT establishing a temporary task force on variable supplements fund

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. The  variable  supplements  fund  (VSF)
program was enacted in 1970 to provide supplementation to the retirement
allowance  of  New  York city police and fire retirement system members.
Since the enactment of the legislation  establishing  the  VSF  program,
much controversy has been generated by the exclusion of disability reti-
rees  from  eligibility  for the benefit. Although a small number of New
York city disability retirees were permitted to receive VSF supplementa-
tion benefits as a result of technical correction  legislation  approved
during  previous  years, the lack of clarity in defining VSF eligibility
and the continued exclusion of most disabled firefighters  from  receipt
of  this  benefit has been a cause of much frustration and confusion for
disability pensioners.
  While it is recognized that any amendment  to  the  VSF  will  require
careful  study  and  consideration  of the issues involved, the legisla-
ture's interest in ensuring fairness  and  equity  demand  such  review.
Because  the legislature does not accept this responsibility lightly, it
hereby declares that the establishment of a temporary task force, to  be
known  as  the temporary task force on the variable supplements fund, is
both warranted and required.
  S 2. 1. A temporary task force, to be  known  as  the  temporary  task
force on the variable supplements fund, is hereby created to examine and
investigate  such  issues  as are related to the exclusion of disability
pensioners from the VSF.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02061-02-5
              

S. 1031--A                          2

  2. The temporary task force shall have the power to:
  (a)  conduct  public hearings in furtherance of the performance of its
duties under this act;
  (b) issue subpoenas for and to compel attendance of witnesses and  the
production of books, records, documents and other relevant evidence; and
  (c)  to  recommend  legislation  consistent  with the purposes of this
section.
  3. The task force shall consist of  seven  members  appointed  by  the
governor as follows:
  (a) one member appointed on the recommendation of the temporary presi-
dent of the senate;
  (b)  one  member appointed on the recommendation of the speaker of the
assembly;
  (c) one member appointed on the recommendation of the minority  leader
of the senate;
  (d)  one member appointed on the recommendation of the minority leader
of the assembly;
  (e) one member appointed on the recommendation of  the  mayor  of  the
city of New York;
  (f)  one  member  appointed  on  the recommendation of the state comp-
troller; and
  (g) one member who shall represent the interest of the affected  disa-
bility retirees and who shall be designated by the chair.
  From among such seven members, the governor shall designate the chair.
In addition to such seven voting members, the president of the uniformed
firefighters  association of greater New York or his or her designee and
the comptroller of the city of New York or his  or  her  designee  shall
serve  as  non-voting members. Four voting members of the temporary task
force shall, at all times, constitute a quorum. Members shall receive no
compensation for their services; members (including non-voting  members)
who are not governmental employees shall be reimbursed for their reason-
able expenses incurred during the performance of their duties.  Notwith-
standing  any  inconsistent  provision  of any general, special or local
law, no officer or employee of the state or of any political subdivision
thereof shall forfeit his or her  office  or  employment  by  reason  of
acceptance of appointment to the temporary task force.
  4.  Within one year of this act becoming law, the temporary task force
shall issue  a  report  containing  such  findings  and  recommendations
regarding  the  eligibility of disability pensioners of New York city to
receive supplemental payments from the VSF and any other matters  relat-
ing thereto. Such report shall be transmitted to the governor, the comp-
troller,  the  chair  of the Senate civil service and pensions committee
and the chair of the assembly governmental employees committee.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.