Relates to increasing certain special accidental death benefits

Latest action Jun 18, 2025

Increases certain special accidental death benefits for state and local retirement system members.

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Where it stands

Signed into law.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8655, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the General Municipal Law.

Committee

Civil Service And Pensions · New York State Senate

Also referred to Governmental Employees · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

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.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 21, 2025Result: passed
(59) (0) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Civil Service And Pensions
Senate Civil Service And PensionsMay 6, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Grace Lee, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and 1 more on Agora

Democratic3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Andrew Gounardes says this is needed

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.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Jun 18, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
Jun 18, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.151
NY Senate
Jun 9, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.477
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.477
NY Assembly
Jun 9, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jun 9, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A8655
NY Assembly

Show full history (12 earlier events)

Jun 6, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Jun 6, 2025
Rules Report CAL.477
RULES REPORT CAL.477
NY Assembly
Jun 4, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
May 22, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
May 21, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 21, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 8, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 7, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 6, 2025
1ST Report CAL.950
1ST REPORT CAL.950
NY Senate
Apr 7, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Civil Service and Pensions
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate
Mar 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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