Relates to the retirement of county and municipal airport firefighters

Latest action Mar 24, 2026

Provides for an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for certain airport firefighters employed by a county or municipality.

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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 A10370, 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

Section 1 of this bill adds a new section 89-z to the retirement and social security law establishing an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for airport firefighters employed by a county or municipality. Subdivision (a) defines eligible members as airport firefighters or similarly titled employees responsible for aircraft rescue and fire- fighting services on airport property, including fire suppression, rescue, emergency response, hazardous materials response, and fire prevention activities related to aircraft, aviation fuel, airport facil- ities, runways, and terminals. Eligibility is contingent upon the employer electing to provide the benefit. The Comptroller is authorized to include positions with substantially similar duties. Subdivision (b) permits eligible members to retire upon completion of twenty-five years of total creditable service by filing an application pursuant to section 70 of the retirement and social security law. Subdivision (c) provides that upon completion of twenty-five years of service, a member shall receive a retirement allowance equal to one-half of final average salary, comprising a pension, annuity, and additional pension as applicable. Subdivision (d) defines "creditable service" to include all qualifying service performed as an airport firefighter or in a similar title with the specified aircraft rescue and firefighting responsibilities. Subdivision (e) permits credit for prior service as a state police member, paid firefighter, police officer, organized fire department or police force member, or criminal investigator in a district attorney's office. Subdivision (f) requires the chief executive officer of an electing employer to certify to the Comptroller the identity of eligible members. Subdivision (g) provides enhanced benefit accrual beyond twenty-five years of service at one-sixtieth of final average salary per additional year, with a maximum retirement allowance of three-fourths of final average salary. Subdivision (h) provides full credit for qualifying military service during time of war, as defined in section 2 of the retirement and social security law. Subdivision (i) clarifies that members who do not retire under this section may apply such creditable service toward another retirement plan for which they are eligible. Subdivision (j) requires that employers electing to provide the benefit pay the full cost attributable to the enhanced retirement benefit. The election must be made by resolution, filed with the Comptroller, and accompanied by an affidavit confirming receipt of a cost estimate from the retirement system. The resolution may provide for payment of past service costs over five or ten years and applies to all eligible members except those already covered by a plan permitting retirement after twen- ty-five years or less without regard to age. Subdivision (k) provides that the provisions of this section control notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of the retirement and social security law. Section 2 of this bill amends subdivision (a) of section 445 of the retirement and social security law to include airport firefighters employed by a county or municipality, as defined in new section 89-z, among those eligible to retire without regard to age upon completion of the required service under an applicable plan. Section 3 of this bill adds a new subdivision (x) to section 603 of the retirement and social security law to provide that airport firefighters employed by a county or municipality who meet the requirements of section 89-z may receive a service retirement benefit without regard to age upon completion of twenty-five years of creditable service. Members subject to article 14 must file an irrevocable written election to participate. Section 4 of this bill adds a new subdivision (x) to section 604 of the retirement and social security law establishing the benefit formula for such members, providing a pension equal to one-fiftieth of final average salary for each y

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 PensionsMar 24, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

The sponsor's argument

Why Robert Jackson says this is needed

Airport firefighters employed by counties and municipalities perform specialized aircraft rescue and firefighting duties in high-risk envi- ronments involving aviation fuel, aircraft incidents, hazardous materi- als, and large-scale emergency response. Despite performing duties comparable in hazard and intensity to other public safety personnel who are eligible for twenty-five year retirement plans, many airport fire- fighters do not currently have access to such retirement options.This legislation provides parity by authorizing an optional twenty-five year retirement plan, while ensuring that participation is contingent upon employer election and that all associated costs are borne by the elect- ing employer. The bill balances fairness to public safety personnel with fiscal responsibility to local governments.

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

Mar 24, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Mar 3, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
NY Assembly
Feb 19, 2026
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.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 4, 2026. About our data

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

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