Increases certain special accidental death benefits paid to a widow or widower or the children of a deceased member of the state and local retirement system.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A11555
SPONSOR: Rules (Pheffer Amato) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law and the retirement and social
security law, in relation to increasing the special accidental death
benefit of certain deceased members
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase certain Special Accidental Death Benefits (SADB) fOr surviv-
ing spouses, dependent children, and certain other eligible benefici-
aries of former uniformed employees of the City of New York and the New
York City Health and. Hospitals Corporation, and for certain former
employees of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, who were
members of certain New York City retirement systems and pension funds
and died as a natural and proximate result of an accident sustained in
the performance of duty.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subdivision c of Section 208-f of the General Municipal
Law to increase the amount paid of accidental death benefits to widows
or their dependent children.
Section 2 amends subdivision c of Section 361-a of the Retirement and
Social Security Law to increase the amount paid of accidental death
benefits to widows or their dependent children.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Since 1978, the Legislature has passed and the Governor signed into law
a cost of living increase and a one-year escalation for all New York
state widows and widowers of police officers and firefighters killed in
the line-of-duty. The intent of the original 1978 law was to increase
their benefits to an amount that would reflect the impact of inflation.
However, the law did not provide for any new cost of living increase
after July 1, 1979. Since that date, the cost of living has increased
well over 3% each year, including some periods of double-digit
inflation. These same widows and widowers are no longer receiving
adequate benefits. This legislation provides some increased relief to
the widows and widowers of New York State's bravest citizens, who gave
their lives in service to the people of New York State. In the past,
These brave families have faced a poverty-stricken existence. This
legislation would prevent the return of that deplorable state of
affairs.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: Chapter 151
2024: Chapter162
2023: Chapter213
2022: Chapter528
2021: Chapter327
2020: Chapter 58/
2019: Chapter 382
2018: Chapter,179
2017: Chapter 76
2016: Chapter 347
2015: Chapter 23
2014: Chapter 104
2013: Chapter 196
2012: Chapter 285
2011: Chapter 161
2010: Chapter 439
2009: Chapter 305
2008: Chapter 76
2007: Chapter 39
2006: Chapter 88
2005: Chapter 48
2004: Chapter 351
2003: Chapter 139
2002: Chapter 313
2001: Chapter 264
2000: Chapter 231
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
See bill
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
11555
IN ASSEMBLY
June 1, 2026
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A.
Pheffer Amato) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Govern-
mental Employees
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law and the retirement and social
security law, in relation to increasing the special accidental death
benefit of certain deceased members
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision c of section 208-f of the general municipal
2 law, as amended by chapter 151 of the laws of 2025, is amended to read
3 as follows:
4 c. Commencing July first, two thousand [twenty-five] twenty-six the
5 special accidental death benefit paid to a widow or widower or the
6 deceased member's children under the age of eighteen or, if a student,
7 under the age of twenty-three, if the widow or widower has died, or to
8 the deceased member's parents if the member has no widow, widower, chil-
9 dren under the age of eighteen, or a student under the age of twenty-
10 three, shall be escalated by adding thereto an additional percentage of
11 the salary of the deceased member (as increased pursuant to subdivision
12 b of this section) in accordance with the following schedule:
13 calendar year of death
14 of the deceased member per centum
15 1977 or prior [313.2%] 325.6%
16 1978 [301.2%] 313.2%
17 1979 [289.5%] 301.2%
18 1980 [278.2%] 289.5%
19 1981 [267.1%] 278.2%
20 1982 [256.5%] 267.1%
21 1983 [246.1%] 256.5%
22 1984 [236.0%] 246.1%
23 1985 [226.2%] 236.0%
24 1986 [216.7%] 226.2%
25 1987 [207.5%] 216.7%
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16024-04-6
A. 11555 2
1 1988 [198.5%] 207.5%
2 1989 [189.8%] 198.5%
3 1990 [181.4%] 189.8%
4 1991 [173.2%] 181.4%
5 1992 [165.2%] 173.2%
6 1993 [157.5%] 165.2%
7 1994 [150.0%] 157.5%
8 1995 [142.7%] 150.0%
9 1996 [135.7%] 142.7%
10 1997 [128.8%] 135.7%
11 1998 [122.1%] 128.8%
12 1999 [115.7%] 122.1%
13 2000 [109.4%] 115.7%
14 2001 [103.3%] 109.4%
15 2002 [97.4%] 103.3%
16 2003 [91.6%] 97.4%
17 2004 [86.0%] 91.6%
18 2005 [80.6%] 86.0%
19 2006 [75.4%] 80.6%
20 2007 [70.2%] 75.4%
21 2008 [65.3%] 70.2%
22 2009 [60.5%] 65.3%
23 2010 [55.8%] 60.5%
24 2011 [51.3%] 55.8%
25 2012 [46.9%] 51.3%
26 2013 [42.6%] 46.9%
27 2014 [38.4%] 42.6%
28 2015 [34.4%] 38.4%
29 2016 [30.5%] 34.4%
30 2017 [26.7%] 30.5%
31 2018 [23.0%] 26.7%
32 2019 [19.4%] 23.0%
33 2020 [15.9%] 19.4%
34 2021 [12.6%] 15.9%
35 2022 [9.3%] 12.6%
36 2023 [6.1%] 9.3%
37 2024 [3.0%] 6.1%
38 2025 [0.0%] 3.0%
39 20260.0%
40 § 2. Subdivision c of section 361-a of the retirement and social secu-
41 rity law, as amended by chapter 151 of the laws of 2025, is amended to
42 read as follows:
43 c. Commencing July first, two thousand [twenty-five] twenty-six the
44 special accidental death benefit paid to a widow or widower or the
45 deceased member's children under the age of eighteen or, if a student,
46 under the age of twenty-three, if the widow or widower has died, shall
47 be escalated by adding thereto an additional percentage of the salary of
48 the deceased member, as increased pursuant to subdivision b of this
49 section, in accordance with the following schedule:
50 calendar year of death
51 of the deceased member per centum
52 1977 or prior [313.2%] 325.6%
53 1978 [301.2%] 313.2%
54 1979 [289.5%] 301.2%
55 1980 [278.2%] 289.5%
A. 11555 3
1 1981 [267.1%] 278.2%
2 1982 [256.5%] 267.1%
3 1983 [246.1%] 256.5%
4 1984 [236.0%] 246.1%
5 1985 [226.2%] 236.0%
6 1986 [216.7%] 226.2%
7 1987 [207.5%] 216.7%
8 1988 [198.5%] 207.5%
9 1989 [189.8%] 198.5%
10 1990 [181.4%] 189.8%
11 1991 [173.2%] 181.4%
12 1992 [165.2%] 173.2%
13 1993 [157.5%] 165.2%
14 1994 [150.0%] 157.5%
15 1995 [142.7%] 150.0%
16 1996 [135.7%] 142.7%
17 1997 [128.8%] 135.7%
18 1998 [122.1%] 128.8%
19 1999 [115.7%] 122.1%
20 2000 [109.4%] 115.7%
21 2001 [103.3%] 109.4%
22 2002 [97.4%] 103.3%
23 2003 [91.6%] 97.4%
24 2004 [86.0%] 91.6%
25 2005 [80.6%] 86.0%
26 2006 [75.4%] 80.6%
27 2007 [70.2%] 75.4%
28 2008 [65.3%] 70.2%
29 2009 [60.5%] 65.3%
30 2010 [55.8%] 60.5%
31 2011 [51.3%] 55.8%
32 2012 [46.9%] 51.3%
33 2013 [42.6%] 46.9%
34 2014 [38.4%] 42.6%
35 2015 [34.4%] 38.4%
36 2016 [30.5%] 34.4%
37 2017 [26.7%] 30.5%
38 2018 [23.0%] 26.7%
39 2019 [19.4%] 23.0%
40 2020 [15.9%] 19.4%
41 2021 [12.6%] 15.9%
42 2022 [9.3%] 12.6%
43 2023 [6.1%] 9.3%
44 2024 [3.0%] 6.1%
45 2025 [0.0%] 3.0%
46 20260.0%
47 § 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
This bill would amend both the General Municipal Law and the Retire-
ment and Social Security Law to increase the salary used in the computa-
tion of the special accidental death benefit by three percent in cases
where the date of death was before calendar year 2026.
Insofar as this bill affects the New York State and Local Police and
Fire Retirement System (NYSLPFRS), the present value of benefits would
increase by approximately $9.86 million.
A. 11555 4
NYSLPFRS Increase in present Increase in required
value of benefits contributions
Beneficiaries $ 9.9 mn $ 0.0 mn
Actives Tiers 1-5 (Closed) $ 0.0 mn $ 3.4 mn
Actives Tier 6 (Open) $ 0.0 mn $ 6.5 mn
Total $ 9.9 mn $ 9.9 mn
Benefit improvements will be funded by increasing the billing rates
charged annually. The annual contribution required of all participating
employers in NYSLPFRS would increase 0.02% of billable salary, or
approximately $180,000 to the state of New York and $760,000 to the
local participating employers.
This permanent annual cost will vary in future billing cycles with
changes in the billing rate and salary of the affected members.
Summary of relevant resources:
Membership data as of March 31, 2025 was used to measure the impact of
the bill, the same data used in the Actuarial Valuations dated April 1,
2025. Distributions and other statistics can be found in the 2025 Report
of the Actuary and the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The
actuarial assumptions and methods used are described in the 2025 Annual
Report to the Comptroller on Actuarial Assumptions, and the Codes, Rules
and Regulations of the State of New York: Audit and Control. The fair
value of assets and GASB disclosures can be found in the 2025 Financial
Statements and Supplementary Information.
Assumptions, demographics, and other considerations may have been
modified to better reflect specific provisions of any proposed benefit
change(s).
This fiscal note does not constitute a legal opinion on the viability
of the bill, nor is it intended to serve as a substitute for the profes-
sional judgment of an attorney.
This estimate, dated May 29, 2026, and intended for use only during
the 2026 Legislative Session, is Fiscal Note Number 2026-232. As Chief
Actuary of the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS), I,
Aaron Schottin Young, hereby certify that this analysis complies with
applicable Actuarial Standards of Practice as well as the Code of Pro-
fessional Conduct and Qualification Standards for Actuaries Issuing
Statements of Actuarial Opinion of the American Academy of Actuaries, of
which I am a member. I am a member of NYSLRS but do not believe it
impairs my objectivity.
FISCAL NOTE.--Pursuant to Legislative Law, Section 50:
SUMMARY: This proposed legislation as it relates to the New York City
Retirement Systems and Pension Funds (NYCRS), would increase Special
Accidental Death Benefits (SADB) for Eligible Beneficiaries of former
members of NYCRS who died due to an accident sustained in the perform-
ance of duty.
EXPECTED IMPACT ON EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS*
by Fiscal Year for the first 25 years ($ in Millions)
Year NYCERS POLICE FIRE TOTAL
2027 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2028 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2029 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2030 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2031 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2032 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2033 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
A. 11555 5
2034 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2035 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2036 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2037 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2038 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2039 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2040 0.4 4.0 4.4 8.8
2041 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
2042 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
2043 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
2044 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
2045 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2046 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2047 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2048 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2049 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2050 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2051 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
* The costs of this proposed legislation have already been accounted
for and will not result in a further increase in employer contributions.
The table above shows the expected decrease in employer contributions if
the proposed legislation is not enacted.
The initial impact on employer contributions of $8.80 million is esti-
mated to be $8.75 million for New York City and $0.05 million for the
other obligors of NYCRS.
PRESENT VALUE OF BENEFITS: The Present Value of Benefits is the
discounted expected value of benefits paid to current members if all
assumptions are met, including future service accrual and pay increases.
Future new hires are not included in this present value.
EXPECTED IMPACT ON ACTUARIAL PRESENT VALUES
as of June 30, 2025 ($ in Millions)
Present Value (PV) NYCERS POLICE FIRE
(1) PV of Employer Contributions: 3.8 34.0 37.0
(2) PV of Employee Contributions: 0.0 0.0 0.0
Total PV of Benefits (1) + (2): 3.8 34.0 37.0
UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY (UAL): Actuarial Accrued Liabilities are
the portion of the Present Value of Benefits allocated to past service.
The decrease in expected pension payments due to this proposed legis-
lation not passing would be treated as an actuarial gain.
AMORTIZATION OF UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY
NYCERS POLICE FIRE
Increase (Decrease) in UAL: 3.5 M 32.7 M 36.6 M
Number of Payments: 14 14 14
Amortization Payment: 0.4 M 3.9 M 4.3 M
CENSUS DATA: The estimates presented herein are based on preliminary
census data collected as of June 30, 2025. The census data for the
impacted population is summarized below.
NYCERS POLICE FIRE
Active Members
- Number Count: 18,418 33,803 10,691
A. 11555 6
- Average Age: 41.9 37.5 40.7
- Average Service: 11.3 11.1 13.7
- Average Salary: 108,600 134,900 143,400
Receiving Members
- Number Count: 86 635 715
- Average Age: 66.8 64.1 67.6
IMPACT ON MEMBER BENEFITS: The SADB cost-of-living adjustments have
been passed by the legislature each year. Under the proposed legis-
lation, an additional 3.0% of Final Salary would be applied to the SADB
paid effective July 1, 2026.
The SADB is paid to the deceased member's surviving spouse, if alive.
If the spouse is no longer alive, the SADB is paid to the deceased
member’s children until age eighteen or until age twenty-three if a
student. If neither a spouse nor a dependent child is alive, the SADB
may be paid to the member's parents or certain other individuals, if
eligible.
The proposed legislation would impact the SADB payable to certain
survivors of NYCERS, POLICE, and FIRE who were employed in certain
uniformed positions of the following New York City employers:
Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Sanitation, Housing
Authority, Transit Authority, Department of Correction, Health and
Hospitals Corporation or New York City (as Emergency Medical Techni-
cian), Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (Bridge and Tunnel Posi-
tion), or Sheriff's Department (as Deputy Sheriff).
ASSUMPTIONS AND METHODS: The estimates presented herein have been
calculated based on the Revised 2021 Actuarial Assumptions and Methods
of the impacted retirement systems.
Based on the historical practice of providing 3.0% Cost-of-Living
Adjustments (COLAs) on the SADB each year, and the likelihood that COLAs
will continue to be granted in the future, the Actuary currently assumes
that the SADB benefit will continue to increase 3.0% per year in the
future when determining NYCRS employer contributions.
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). This Fiscal Note does not reflect any chapter
laws that may have been enacted during the current legislative session.
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 2026-95 dated June 1,
2026 was prepared by the Chief Actuary for the New York City Retirement
Systems and Pension Funds and is intended for use only during the 2026
Legislative Session.
