Permits surviving spouses of certain retirement plan members to retain certain benefits upon remarriage

Latest action Dec 18, 2025

Permits surviving spouses of NYC police pension fund members to retain accidental death benefits upon remarriage.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Signed into law.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A7949, 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

To extend Accidental Death benefits to widows or widowers of New York City police officers killed in the line of duty should they remarry.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 13, 2025Result: passed
(59) (0) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Rules
Senate RulesJun 12, 2025Result: passed
(20) (0) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Civil Service And Pensions
Senate Civil Service And PensionsMay 27, 2025Result: passed
(6) (0) (0) (1)

Cosponsors

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Michael Gianaris

Democratic2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Robert Jackson says this is needed

This bill seeks to remedy an inequity facing widows or widowers of New York City police officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, widows or widowers of officers killed in the line of duty and hired before July 1, 2009, are eligible to continue to receive Accidental Death Benefits should they remarry. However, widows and widowers of officers hired on or after July 1, 2009, are not eligible to receive Accidental Death Benefits should they remarry. New York City police officers take signif- icant risks in their duty to protect the public. When an officer is killed in the line of duty, it reflects the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community. Providing benefits to the officer's family acknowledges and honors that sacrifice. One of the reasons to extend the benefits is to provide long-term finan- cial stability and security for the spouse and any dependents. Remar- riage does not necessarily eliminate the financial needs or responsibil- ities that the spouse may have, particularly if they have children or ongoing financial commitments arising from the marriage with the offi- cer. Additionally, continuing the benefits after remarriage is a way to honor and respect the memory and service of the fallen officer. It main- tains a lasting gesture of gratitude and acknowledgment from the commu- nity for the service rendered by the officer. Extending these benefits to Tier 3 spouses puts them on par with Tier 2 spouses.

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

Dec 18, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.642
NY Senate
Dec 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
Jun 16, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.817
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.817
NY Assembly
Jun 16, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jun 16, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly

Show full history (15 earlier events)

Jun 16, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A7949A
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Home Rule Request
HOME RULE REQUEST
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 13, 2025
Reference Changed to Ways and Means
REFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 12, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.2001
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.2001
NY Senate
May 27, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
May 21, 2025
Amend (t) and Recommit to Governmental Employees
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
May 20, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Civil Service and Pensions
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate
May 16, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Civil Service and Pensions
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate
May 15, 2025
Amend (t) and Recommit to Civil Service and Pensions
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate
Apr 16, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
Apr 9, 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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