Establishes the New York state auxiliary officer death benefit fund to provide a death benefit to the families of auxiliary officers who died in the line of duty during the state of emergency declared by the governor pursuant to section twenty-nine of the executive law beginning March 7, 2020.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1933
SPONSOR: Stern TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the
New York state auxiliary officer death benefit fund
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would create a $10,000 death benefit to the surviving
family of any auxiliary officer who died in the line of duty during the
COVID-19 State of Emergency.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: states that this act shall be known and may be cited as
"Anthony's law".
Section 2: amends state finance law by adding a new section 99-qq.
Section 3: sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Auxiliary police officers bravely put their lives on the line to assist
municipal police departments. Sadly, this supreme sacrifice occurred on
April 19, 2020, when Auxiliary Police Captain Anthony J. DeNoyior died
as a result of COVID-19, which he contracted while serving in his offi-
cial capacity as an auxiliary police officer.
As volunteers, auxiliary police officers selflessly give their time to
train and assist their communities during events and emergencies such as
the COVID19 pandemic. Unlike municipal employees, who can rely on disa-
bility and death benefits for surviving family members through the
retirement system following a line of duty injury or death, as volun-
teers, no such benefit exists for auxiliary police officers.
In honor of Captain DeNoyior's selfless sacrifice, this legislation
creates Anthony's Law, which will provide a lump sum benefit, subject to
appropriation, for auxiliary police officers who die in the line of duty
during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Such a benefit is an appropriate
way to recognize these officer's heroic service.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: A4715 - Referred to Local Governments
2020: A10996 - Referred to Local Governments
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Subject to appropriation.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
