Extends the expansion of eligibility for World Trade Center death and disability benefits for members of New York's organized militia for an additional four years.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A11538
SPONSOR: Rules (Lee) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the military law, in relation to extending the expan-
sion of eligibility for World Trade Center death and disability
benefits for members of New York's organized militia
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to extend the deadline for New York National
Guard Members and their beneficiaries to file claims for accidental
disability and death benefits.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
§ 1. Amends military law to extend the deadline for New York National
Guard Members and their beneficiaries to file claims for accidental
disability and death benefits.
§ 2. Provides an effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Following the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11,
2001, over 1,500 New York National Guard members responded to assist
with rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts. In the 25 years since, many
first responders have become ill as a result of prolonged exposure to
debris. This bill would extend the deadline for New York National guard
members and their beneficiaries to file for accidental disability and
accidental death benefits from September 11, 2026, to September 11,
2030.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
11538
IN ASSEMBLY
June 1, 2026
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Lee) -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the military law, in relation to extending the expan-
sion of eligibility for World Trade Center death and disability
benefits for members of New York's organized militia
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 and paragraph (b) of subdi-
2 vision 2 of section 217 of the military law, as added by section 1 of
3 part J of chapter 55 of the laws of 2023, are amended to read as
4 follows:
5 (b) was activated on state active duty on or after September eleventh,
6 two thousand one, to participate in World Trade Center site rescue,
7 recovery, or cleanup operations as part of such state active duty, and
8 who is determined to have incurred a qualifying World Trade Center
9 condition, as hereinafter provided, shall be entitled to a performance
10 of duty disability pension equivalent to three-quarters of the member's
11 final annual pay as provided for under this chapter. The deadline for
12 submitting any qualifying claim under this paragraph shall be on or
13 before September eleventh, two thousand [twenty-six] thirty. The adju-
14 tant general of the division of military and naval affairs is authorized
15 to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section.
16 (b) was activated on state active duty on or after September eleventh,
17 two thousand one, to participate in World Trade Center site rescue,
18 recovery, or cleanup operations as part of such state active duty, and
19 whose death is determined to be the result of incurring a qualifying
20 World Trade Center condition, as hereinafter provided, the surviving
21 spouse, children under twenty-one years of age or dependent parent of
22 such member of the organized militia shall be entitled to an accidental
23 death benefit equivalent to one-half of the member's final annual pay as
24 provided under this chapter. The deadline for submitting any qualifying
25 claim under this paragraph shall be on or before September eleventh, two
26 thousand [twenty-six] thirty. The adjutant general of the division of
27 military and naval affairs is authorized to promulgate regulations to
28 implement the provisions of this section.
29 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16036-01-6
