Relates to death benefits for members of the uniformed force of the fire department of the city of New York

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Provides for beneficiaries of the death benefits of an eligible uniformed member of the fire department of the city of New York the ability to elect to receive such benefits in a certain lump-sum amount.

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A7899, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Retirement and Social Security 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

This bill seeks to enhance death benefits of deceased uniformed members of the fire department of the city of New York.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Civil Service And Pensions
Senate Civil Service And PensionsMay 13, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Democratic1

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Robert Jackson says this is needed

This bill seeks to enhance death benefits of deceased uniformed members of the fire department of the city of New York. Currently, the families of pension-eligible firefighters who die before they take retirement receive a death benefit of three times the final years earnings in a lump sum. This lump sum payment does not relieve the substantial loss of wages suffered by the many surviving families. This bill will allow these families the option of receiving the traditional death benefit of three times final average salary or the full amount of the pension the firefighter earned and would have received if still alive.

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

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
May 13, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Apr 11, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
Apr 1, 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 Nov 3, 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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