authorizing Liliana Fernandez-Clemente, the widow of Daniel Clemente, to file a new service retirement application and option election form with the New York…

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

Before December 13, 2024, members of the State and Local Employees Retirement System who filed a retirement application had to wait a mini- mum of 15 days before their retirement would become active. Unfortu- nately, this waiting period led to tragic situations in which members who submitted their retirement applications passed away before the application became effective. In such cases, their families were deprived of the pension benefits they would have been entitled to, instead receiving only the death benefit, which is a significantly lower payment. On December 13, 2024, Governor Hochul signed legislation (chapter 593) that addressed the situation described above, allowing beneficiaries of members who died during the period between filing an application for retirement and the date on which their retirement application became effective to choose pension benefits. Tragically, just days before that bill was signed into law, Daniel Clemente of Orange County passed away. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a dedicated public servant who gave nearly 35 years of his life to the New York State Homes and Community Renewal. On February 21, 2024, Danny was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer with liver metastases. Despite this devastating diagnosis, he continued working, fueled by his love for his job and an unshakable belief that he could overcome the disease. After enduring multiple surgeries, numerous bouts of sepsis, and suffer- ing a stroke, Danny made the heart-wrenching decision to submit his retirement documents on November 29, 2024. Tragically, he passed away on December 9, 2024-just six days short of completing the mandatory 15-day processing period for retirement, which was set to take effect on Decem- ber 15, 2024. Because he passed just six days before the mandatory 15-day processing period was completed, his retirement case was canceled. As a result, his wife, Liliana, is only entitled to the death benefit rather than the pension benefits Danny had earned. This bill seeks to rectify this injustice by allowing Liliana to receive the full pension benefits she rightfully deserves, providing some relief during this difficult time.

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.