S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7219--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 15, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SILLITTI, DeSTEFANO, DARLING, JEAN-PIERRE, JACOB-
SON, KELLES, SAYEGH, SHIMSKY, BURDICK, CLARK, GUNTHER, LEVENBERG,
LAVINE, BUTTENSCHON, CONRAD, EACHUS, JONES, ZEBROWSKI, WOERNER, PHEF-
FER AMATO, McMAHON, McDONALD, STIRPE, LUNSFORD, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, STERN,
CUNNINGHAM, AUBRY, BENDETT, MCGOWAN, SIMPSON, RA, SANTABARBARA,
SEAWRIGHT, BLUMENCRANZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ANGELINO,
K. BROWN, BYRNES, GALLAHAN, GRAY, McDONOUGH, MIKULIN, MORINELLO,
NORRIS, SIMON, SMITH, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Employees -- recommitted to the Committee on
Governmental Employees in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the retirement and social security law, in relation to
establishing a retirement service credit for volunteer fire or emer-
gency service
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The retirement and social security law is amended by adding
a new article 20-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20-A
CREDIT FOR NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE
SECTION 1050. NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE CREDIT.
§ 1050. NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE CREDIT. 1.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOW-
ING MEANINGS:
(A) "PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE STATE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
ING AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWENTY-THREE OF
SECTION FIVE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08016-12-4
A. 7219--A 2
(B) "MEMBER" SHALL MEAN A MEMBER OF A PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE
STATE.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, A MEMBER SHALL BE ELIGIBLE
FOR CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE AS PROVIDED PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION.
3. A MEMBER, UPON APPLICATION TO A PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE
STATE, MAY OBTAIN ONE YEAR OF SERVICE CREDIT FOR EVERY FIVE YEARS OF
VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDED IN THE STATE. A MEMBER
SHALL BE LIMITED UNDER THIS SECTION TO OBTAIN NOT MORE THAN THREE YEARS
OF SERVICE CREDIT FOR A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN YEARS OF VOLUNTEER FIRE OR
EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDED. PROOF OF VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY
SERVICE SHALL BE CERTIFIED BY THE VOLUNTEER AGENCY FOR WHICH SUCH MEMBER
VOLUNTEERED TIME.
4. A MEMBER SHALL HAVE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE, NOT
INCLUDING SERVICE GRANTED HEREUNDER, TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CREDIT
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
5. TO OBTAIN CREDIT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, A MEMBER SHALL PAY THE
APPROPRIATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, FOR DEPOSIT IN THE FUND USED TO ACCUMU-
LATE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS, A SUM EQUAL TO THE PRODUCT OF THE NUMBER OF
YEARS OF VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE BEING CREDITED AND THREE
PERCENT OF SUCH MEMBER'S COMPENSATION EARNED DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS OF
CREDITED SERVICE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE THAT SUCH MEMBER MADE
APPLICATION FOR CREDIT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. IF PERMITTED BY RULE OR
REGULATION OF THE APPLICABLE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, A MEMBER MAY PAY SUCH
MEMBER COSTS BY PAYROLL DEDUCTION FOR A PERIOD WHICH SHALL NOT EXCEED
THE TIME PERIOD OF VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE TO BE CREDITED
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. IN THE EVENT SUCH MEMBER LEAVES THE EMPLOYER
PAYROLL PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF PAYMENT, SUCH MEMBER SHALL FORWARD ALL
REMAINING REQUIRED PAYMENTS TO THE APPROPRIATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRIOR
TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RETIREMENT. IF THE FULL AMOUNT OF SUCH MEMBER
COSTS IS NOT PAID TO THE APPROPRIATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRIOR TO THE
MEMBER'S RETIREMENT, THE AMOUNT OF SERVICE CREDITED SHALL BE PROPOR-
TIONAL TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE PAYMENTS MADE PRIOR TO RETIREMENT.
6. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CREDIT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, WHEN
ADDED TO CREDIT GRANTED FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE WITH ANY
RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THIS STATE PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW,
EXCEED A TOTAL OF THREE YEARS.
7. TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY
SERVICE UNDER THIS SECTION, A MEMBER SHALL MAKE APPLICATION FOR SUCH
CREDIT BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RETIREMENT.
8. ALL COSTS FOR SERVICE CREDITED TO A MEMBER PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, OTHER THAN THE MEMBER COSTS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF
THIS SECTION, SHALL BE PAID BY THE STATE AND ALL EMPLOYERS WHICH PARTIC-
IPATE IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM IN WHICH SUCH MEMBER IS GRANTED CREDIT.
9. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NONE OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROPRIATION
REQUIREMENT OF SECTION TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.
10. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, IN THE EVENT OF DEATH
PRIOR TO RETIREMENT, AMOUNTS PAID BY A MEMBER FOR THE PURCHASE OF VOLUN-
TEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY SERVICE CREDIT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE
REFUNDED, WITH INTEREST, TO THE EXTENT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE OR EMERGENCY
SERVICE PURCHASED WITH SUCH AMOUNTS DOES NOT PRODUCE A GREATER DEATH
BENEFIT THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYABLE HAD SUCH MEMBER NOT PURCHASED SUCH
CREDIT.
11. SERVICE CREDIT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE CREDITA-
BLE IN ANY SPECIAL TWENTY OR TWENTY-FIVE YEAR RETIREMENT PLAN.
A. 7219--A 3
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
This bill would allow members of any New York State retirement system
to purchase service credit for time rendered in volunteer fire or emer-
gency service. A member may obtain one year of service credit for every
five years of time rendered as a volunteer fire or emergency services,
not to exceed three years of total credit. To be eligible, members must
have at least five years of credited service (not including volunteer
service). Members would be required to make a payment of three percent
of their most recent compensation per year of additional service credit
granted by this bill. Service credit would only be creditable on 20-year
and 25-year service-based retirement plans. Members may not be credited
more than one year for all service obtained in a calendar year.
This bill would not be consistent with the Retirement System's policy
that service credit may only be granted for service for which a salary
has been paid.
The provisions of Section 25 of the Retirement and Social Security Law
shall not apply.
Insofar as this proposal affects the New York State and Local Employ-
ees' Retirement System (NYSLERS), all costs would be shared by the State
of New York and the local participating employers in the NYSLERS. If
enacted during the 2024 Legislative Session, it is estimated that the
past service cost will be 22% of an affected member's compensation for
each year of service credit that is purchased.
Insofar as this proposal affects the New York State and Local Police
and Fire Retirement System (NYSLPFRS), all costs would be shared by the
State of New York and the local participating employers in the NYSLPFRS.
If enacted during the 2024 Legislative Session, it is estimated that the
past service cost will be 22% of an affected member's compensation for
each year of service credit that is purchased.
Further, we anticipate additional administrative costs to implement
the provisions of this legislation.
The exact number of current members as well as future members who
could be affected by this legislation cannot be readily determined.
Summary of relevant resources:
Membership data as of March 31, 2023 was used in measuring the impact
of the proposed change, the same data used in the April 1, 2023 actuari-
al valuation. Distributions and other statistics can be found in the
2023 Report of the Actuary and the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial
Report.
The actuarial assumptions and methods used are described in the 2023
Annual Report to the Comptroller on Actuarial Assumptions, and the
Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York: Audit and
Control.
The Market Assets and GASB Disclosures are found in the March 31, 2023
New York State and Local Retirement System Financial Statements and
Supplementary Information.
I am a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and meet the Quali-
fication Standards to render the actuarial opinion contained herein.
This fiscal note does not constitute a legal opinion on the viability
of the proposed change nor is it intended to serve as a substitute for
the professional judgment of an attorney.
This estimate, dated April 10, 2024, and intended for use only during
the 2024 Legislative Session, is Fiscal Note No. 2024-161, prepared by
the Actuary for the New York State and Local Retirement System.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
A. 7219--A 4
SUMMARY: This proposed legislation would allow eligible active NYCRS
members to purchase one year of service credit for every five years of
volunteer fire or emergency service provided in the state, for up to a
total of three years of NYCRS service credit.
ILLUSTRATION - INCREASE (DECREASE) IN EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS
by Fiscal Year for the first 25 years ($)
Year One Year of Service One Year of Service
Purchased Purchased Per Year
2025 1,700 1,700
2026 1,700 3,500
2027 1,700 5,400
2028 1,700 7,300
2029 1,700 9,200
2030 1,700 11,200
2031 1,700 13,300
2032 1,700 15,500
2033 1,700 17,700
2034 1,700 19,900
2035 1,700 22,300
2036 1,700 24,700
2037 1,700 27,200
2038 1,700 29,700
2039 0 30,600
2040 0 31,500
2041 0 32,500
2042 0 33,400
2043 0 34,400
2044 0 35,500
2045 0 36,500
2046 0 37,600
2047 0 38,800
2048 0 39,900
2049 0 41,100
Employer contribution impact beyond Fiscal Year 2049 is not shown.
The potential increases in employer contributions will be allocated to
New York City and other applicable obligors of NYCRS.
EXPECTED INCREASE (DECREASE) IN ACTUARIAL LIABILITIES
as of June 30, 2023 ($ in Thousands)
Present Value (PV) Per Year of Service
Purchased
PV of Benefits: 17.0
PV of Employee Contributions: (2.4)
PV of Employer Contributions: 14.7
Unfunded Accrued Liabilities: 14.7
AMORTIZATION OF UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY
Recognized as Ongoing Gain/Loss Per Year of Service
Purchased
Number of Payments: 14
Amortization Payment: 1.7 K
A. 7219--A 5
CENSUS DATA: The number of members who will be eligible to purchase
service based on certified volunteer fire or emergency service is
unknown. The estimates presented herein are based on preliminary census
data collected as of June 30, 2023. The census data for the potentially
impacted population used to develop the average costs in this Fiscal
Note is summarized below.
NYCRS
Active Members
- Number Count: 272,111
- Average Age: 48.6
- Average Service: 15.4
- Average Salary: 104,900
IMPACT ON MEMBER BENEFITS AND CONTRIBUTIONS: Eligible members who wish
to purchase NYCRS service pursuant to this bill, must contribute three
percent of such member's compensation earned during the twelve months of
credited service immediately preceding the date that such member applied
for NYCRS service credit for each year of credited service.
Members will receive one year of NYCRS service per five years of
volunteer fire or emergency service certified, up to a maximum of three
years of NYCRS service credit. A member must have at least five years of
credited service in NYCRS, not including volunteer fire or emergency
service credit requested, to be eligible to purchase volunteer service.
ASSUMPTIONS AND METHODS: The estimates presented herein have been
calculated based on the Revised 2021 Actuarial Assumptions and Methods
of the impacted retirement systems.
The estimated per incident costs are based on the purchase of one year
of NYCRS service (i.e., five years of volunteer service) for members
with five or more years of service.
The number of members who will benefit in the future from this fiscal
note is unknown. The cost of this proposed legislation could vary great-
ly depending on the number of future members who benefit and, on their
plan, length of service, age, and salary history.
RISK AND UNCERTAINTY: The costs presented in this Fiscal Note depend
highly on the actuarial assumptions, methods, and models used, demo-
graphics of the impacted population, and other factors such as invest-
ment, contribution, and other risks. If actual experience deviates from
actuarial assumptions, the actual costs could differ from those
presented herein. Quantifying these risks is beyond the scope of this
Fiscal Note.
This Fiscal Note is intended to measure pension-related impacts and
does not include other potential costs (e.g., administrative and Other
Postemployment Benefits).
STATEMENT OF ACTUARIAL OPINION: Marek Tyszkiewicz and Gregory Zelikov-
sky are members of the Society of Actuaries and the American Academy of
Actuaries. We are members of NYCERS but do not believe it impairs our
objectivity and we meet the Qualification Standards of the American
Academy of Actuaries to render the actuarial opinion contained herein.
To the best of our knowledge, the results contained herein have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles and
procedures and with the Actuarial Standards of Practice issued by the
Actuarial Standards Board.
FISCAL NOTE IDENTIFICATION: This Fiscal Note 2024-38 dated March 28,
2024 was prepared by the Chief Actuary for the New York City Retirement
A. 7219--A 6
Systems and Pension Funds. This estimate is intended for use only during
the 2024 Legislative Session.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
This bill would create Article 20-A of the Retirement and Social Secu-
rity Law that would allow members to purchase service credit for volun-
teer fire or emergency services provided in the state. A member may
purchase one year of service credit for every five years of volunteer
fire or emergency service, not to exceed a total of three years
purchased. To obtain such credit, members are required to pay three
percent of salary earned during the twelve months of credited service
immediately preceding the date of application for each year of volunteer
service credited. A member must have at least five years of service
credit, not including service credit granted under this bill, to be
eligible.
It is not possible to determine the number of eligible current and
future members, or the volunteer service credit each member may purchase
under this bill. Therefore, it is not possible to estimate the annual
increase in the employers' cost for this bill. Whatever increase in
liability arises for service credited under this bill above that paid
for by the member would be included in the cost that would be shared by
employers through the employer contribution rate.
It is estimated that the cost, expressed as a percentage of a member's
salary for each year of service credit a member purchases under this
bill is as follows:
Cost per year of Service Purchased
(as a percentage of the member's salary)
Tier(s) 1-4 5 6
Cost 12.5% 11.3% 9.5%
Member Contribution
offset 3.0% 3.0% 3.0%
Net cost to
participating employers 9.5% 8.3% 6.5%
Member data is from the System's most recent actuarial valuation files
as of June 30, 2023, consisting of data provided by the employers to the
Retirement System. The most recent data distributions and statistics can
be found in the System's Annual Report for fiscal year ended June 30,
2023. System assets are as reported in the System's financial statements
and can also be found in the System's Annual Report. Actuarial assump-
tions and methods are provided in the System's Actuarial Valuation
Report as of June 30, 2023.
The source of this estimate is Fiscal Note 2024-32 dated April 18,
2024 prepared by the Office of the Actuary of the New York State Teach-
ers' Retirement System and is intended for use only during the 2024
Legislative Session. I, Richard A. Young, am the Chief Actuary for the
New York State Teachers' Retirement System. I am a member of the Ameri-
can Academy of Actuaries and I meet the Qualification Standards of the
American Academy of Actuaries to render the actuarial opinion contained
herein.