New York Assembly Bill A08874

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/9/25
• Refer: 6/9/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Authorizes Bonnie E. Sullivan, the widow of Gerald J. Sullivan, to file an application with the New York state and local police and fire retirement system on behalf of such deceased member and deem such application as timely filed.

Impact

The passage of A08874 would directly affect state laws surrounding the retirement benefits of firefighters and, specifically, provisions for accidental disability retirement under the retirement and social security law. It includes a provision for the recalculation of pension benefits, indicating that there may be an adjustment to the financial entitlements associated with Gerald J. Sullivan’s retirement. The bill stipulates that any additional expenditures related to this bill would need to be covered by the city of Buffalo, indicating a localized fiscal impact.

Summary

Bill A08874 seeks to amend the existing retirement laws in New York by allowing Bonnie E. Sullivan, the widow of Gerald J. Sullivan, to file an application for accidental disability retirement on behalf of her deceased husband. Gerald J. Sullivan, a former member of the Buffalo Fire Department, passed away due to cancer while being a performance of duty disability retiree. The bill effectively treats this application as timely filed, thereby granting Bonnie E. Sullivan the ability to access potential benefits despite the timing of her application.

Contention

Discussion surrounding A08874 may touch upon the financial implications for the city of Buffalo, particularly the one-time payment of $245,000 associated with the immediate past service cost of the retirement benefits. The community may express concerns regarding the financial burden on local resources, especially if similar cases arise in the future. Moreover, while the bill aims to provide support to a widow of a first responder, potential debates could arise about the balance between individual benefit amendments and the financial sustainability of municipal pension systems.