Provides as an alternative retirement option from the current option, that any member employed as an emergency medical technician, critical care technician, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic or supervisor of such titles upon an election by a participating fire district, not including those in a city with a population of one million or more, shall be eligible to retire.
Impact
The enactment of S09948 is expected to have significant implications for state laws governing retirement benefits for emergency response personnel. It provides a streamlined opportunity for those in critical life-saving roles to retire earlier compared to conventional plans. Members who retire under this new provision would be entitled to a pension that equals half of their final average salary, with additional increments for service beyond twenty-five years, capped at seventy-five percent of the final average salary. Consequently, this may lead to a more attractive retirement package for emergency responders.
Summary
Bill S09948 proposes an amendment to the retirement and social security law specifically targeting members employed as emergency medical technicians, critical care technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and supervisors of these roles within participating fire districts. The bill allows these members to retire after completing twenty-five years of total creditable service, which serves as an alternative to existing retirement eligibility provisions. This new provision is applicable to all participating fire districts in New York, except for those located in cities with populations exceeding one million.
Contention
Notably, discussions surrounding the bill have raised points of contention related to the financial implications for participating fire districts. The districts will be responsible for past service costs associated with this new retirement option, which proponents argue is justified given the demanding nature of the work performed by these personnel. However, critics express concern over the potential financial burden this may impose on local fire districts, especially those that may already be operating under tight budgets. The necessity for each district to assess the costs involved before electing to opt into the new retirement benefit further adds a layer of complexity to the bill's adoption.
Relates to the establishment of a twenty-two and one-half year retirement program for members of the New York city employees' retirement system employed as emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians and to the establishment of such program for such members who are subject to articles 11 and 15 of the retirement and social security law.
Relates to the establishment of a twenty-two and one-half year retirement program for members of the New York city employees' retirement system employed as emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians and to the establishment of such program for such members who are subject to articles 11 and 15 of the retirement and social security law.
Provides for benefits for certain emergency medical technicians or advanced emergency medical technicians in the city of New York who suffer any condition or impairment of health caused by a stroke resulting in disability or death.
Requires all certified first responders, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians to undergo criminal background checks to maintain their certification.
Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.