Establishes a twenty-five year retirement program for members of the NYC employees' retirement system employed as water supply police

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic1

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Brian Kavanagh says this is needed

Currently Water Supply Police members participate in one of the NYCERS general plans. Basic Tier 4 62/5 Plan, Tier 6 63/10 Plan or Improved Tier 4 57/5, 55/25 Plans. This legislation would provide for a service retirement benefit upon obtaining 25 years of any NYCERS credited service, including service as a New York City Water Supply Police member a benefit equal to 50% of the Final Average Salary for the first 25 years of credited service, plus 2% of the Final Average Salary for each additional year of credited service up to a maximum of 30 years of such service. In addition, members of the proposed WSP 25 year plan are enti- tled to the same disability and death benefits as other Tier 4 and 6 members under the respective plans. The water supply police are the law enforcement entity for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection that is responsible for the protection of the New York City water supply and the associated critical infrastructure from terrorism, pollution and crime. New York City's water supply provides. more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City. Police officers, in general, have one of the highest rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, stress and other health related problems. The physical deterioration and emotional stress, which police officers encounter, is evidence of the necessity to maintain a young and vigorous force. As such, a service-based retirement plan (as opposed to an age- based plan) provides the ability for such officers to retire after a specified number of years, which, in turn, allows the hiring of younger individuals. This legislation will accomplish the goal of maintaining a younger police force that corresponds to the demands of the job. In the past a significant number of officers have left service for other police departments over this retirement issue. It is anticipated that this "train and transfer" dilemma will increase as current hires would have to wait until age 63 to retire under recent amendments to the New York City Employees' Retirement System. It is only fitting that this legislation be enacted to give them parity with other police force members who are in 25-year retirement plans.

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.