Senate Passes Larkin Bill To Provide Disability Retirement For Members Of The Armed Forces

The State Senate today passed legislation (S.7355) sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) that would create a special disability retirement benefit for public employees who are members of the armed forces and are injured in combat.

The proposal would provide 75 percent of the final average salary as a disability retirement benefit for state and local government employees who are members of the military or reserves and are injured in combat.

"Under current law, police officers and firefighters who suffer a disabling injury on the job in the line of duty receive 75 percent of their final average salary as a disability pension," said Senator Larkin. "The citizen soldiers of our National Guard and Reserves who are called to active duty leave their homes and families to protect our state and nation. The risks they take are every bit as potentially dangerous as that faced by police officers and firefighters. These brave New Yorkers are voluntarily risking death or terrible injury on behalf of their fellow citizens. If they return with serious injuries and are unable to resume their jobs, they need a way to provide a secure future for themselves and their families. This bill would give them the same disability retirement benefits offered to their equally brave counterparts in our police and fire departments."

The bill now goes to the Assembly.