Legislative Bulletin – March 12, 2008
The Senate today passed S.6457, introduced by Senator Farley, to establish a Task Force on Retiree Health Insurance Protection. The companion Assembly bill, A.9393, Abbate, remains in the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee.
Legislative Bulletin – March 10, 2008
The Assembly passed S.6650, Farley, which passed the Senate last week (See Legislative Bulletin - March 5, 2008 – item 2). S.6650 was substituted for the Assembly companion bill, A.9942, Weinstein, on the Assembly calendar and passed unanimously. The bill extends for an additional year until May 15, 2009 the existing school district retiree health insurance protection. Originally enacted in 1994 as a temporary measure pending the work of a Governor’s Task Force studying the issue, it has been extended yearly since 1994 even though the original Task Force disbanded without making any permanent recommendations.
Legislative Bulletin – March 5, 2008
Three significant actions happened this week in the Legislature:
1) Senator Andrew J. Lanza (R – Staten Island) was named the new Committee Chairperson of the Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee. He replaces Senator Joseph Robach (R, C, I & WF – Rochester) who takes over as the Chair of the Senate Labor Committee.
2) The Senate passed S.6650, introduced by Senator Farley, which extends for an additional year until May 15, 2009 the existing school district retiree health insurance protection. Originally enacted in 1994 as a temporary measure pending the work of a Governor’s Task Force studying the issue, it has been extended yearly since 1994 even though the original Task Force disbanded without making any permanent recommendations.
The Assembly companion bill, A.9942, which had been reported from the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee to the Ways and Means Committee last week, was reported by Ways & Means to the floor calendar.
3) The Assembly bill (A.1218-A, Latimer) which would require insurance companies to notify designated third parties when it seeks to cancel a senior citizen’s health insurance policy was passed by the Assembly. It now joins its Senate companion bill (S.2905, DeFrancisco) in the Senate Insurance Committee.
Legislative Bulletin – March 4, 2008
Governor Spitzer signed A.6344-B, Gunther, into law. This bill, for which RPEA wrote a letter of support to the Governor, would require insurance companies to send annual notices to homeowners informing them whether their homeowner’s insurance policies cover flood or mudslide damage. The bill becomes Chapter 21 of the Laws of 2008 and is effective on the 180 day after March 4, 2008.
[See Legislative Bulletin – February 13, 2008 for a copy of RPEA’s letter of support.]
Legislative Bulletin – February 28, 2008
This week, the Assembly Insurance Committee reported to the Assembly floor a bill (A.1218-A, Latimer) which would require insurance companies to notify designated third parties when it seeks to cancel a senior citizen’s health insurance policy. The bill has been advanced to Third Reading and can be voted upon by the entire Assembly when it is reached on the calendar.
This bill is part of the 2008 RPEA Legislative Program and is introduced in the Senate (S.2905, DeFrancisco).
Legislative Bulletin – February 26, 2008
The Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees reported to the Ways & Means Committee, the current versions of the two health insurance protection bills which had been vetoed by the Governor last year. These bills, which have already been reported to the Senate Floor Calendar, are A.9894/S.6649 (State & Local and School District Retirees) and A.9895/S.6648 (Police & Fire Retirees) both introduced by Assemblyman Abbate and Senator Farley.
At the same meeting, the Governmental Employees Committee reported to the Ways & Means Committee, a bill extending for another year, the temporary health insurance protection for School District Retirees which had been enacted by Chapter 729 of the Laws of 1994. That bill is A.9942, Weinstein/S.6650, Farley.
As you will recall, the bill creating the Task Force on Retiree Health Insurance Protection (A.9393/S.6457) was not reported from the Governmental Employees Committee. (See our Legislative Bulletin, dated February 11, 2008.) We are awaiting word from Chairman Abbate as to how he wants to convene those interested in this critical issue for retirees to address the Governor’s concerns and how the bills could be amended in a way to enact a permanent health insurance protection law for all public service retirees.
Legislative Bulletin – February 13, 2008
RPEA Board President, Stan Winter, wrote a letter of support to Governor Eliot Spitzer on a “Ten Day Bill” to require insurance companies to provide annual notice to homeowners explaining whether the homeowner’s insurance policy covered flood or mudslide damage. Currently, such notice only has to be provided at the inception of the policy.
The bill, A.6344-B, introduced by Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther, passed both houses of the Legislature and is slated to be delivered to the Governor for his approval very soon. Upon delivery, the Governor would have ten days to approve or veto the bill.
You can read RPEA’s Letter of Support by clicking here.
Legislative Bulletin – February 11, 2008
The Assembly bill (A.9393, Abbate) creating a Task Force on Retiree Health Insurance Protection appeared on the Agenda for the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees in an “off the Floor” meeting. However, we are informed that the bill was taken off the Agenda before a vote because of objections by CSEA and because of concern that the May 1, 2008 reporting date was too soon and needed to be amended. We are attempting to contact the Legislative Representative of CSEA in order to work with them to alleviate their concerns about the bill.
The Senate companion bill (S.6457, Farley) is still on the Third Reading in the Senate awaiting a vote by that Chamber.
Legislative Bulletin – January 24, 2008
Yesterday, 27 teams of retirees, families and friends from the Statewide Coalition for the Forgotten Mommies held meetings with members of the Assembly in Albany to promote the Tier I Reinstatement bill (S.6444/A.9524). RPEA Deputy Executive Director, Alan Dorn, and RPEA Legislative Representative, Tony Cantore, each led a team in support of the lobbying effort. Each team visited at least four Assembly Offices to explain why the bill is justified because it rectifies discrimination for many workers who were forced to leave their jobs to have children or care for families. The bill grants tier reinstatement to those who had already retired when the 1998 tier reinstatement legislation allowed 40,000 active employees to reclaim their original pension tier..
The day started with a rousing Press Conference hosted by the bill’s new Assembly prime sponsor, Aileen M. Gunther. Attended by Senator Thomas P. Morahan, the bill’s Senate sponsor, and various Assembly members, it was announced that 114 of the Assembly’s 150 members are now co-sponsors of the bill. A number of tragic situations were related to the news media to show how the legislation is needed to correct the unfairness of excluding retirees from the 1998 reinstatement provisions.
To cap the day on a positive note, the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions, held a regularly scheduled meeting. Upon the recommendation of the Committee Chair, Senator Joseph Robach, the Committee favorably reported the Morahan bill, S.6444, to the floor calendar of the State Senate.
Legislative Bulletin – January 17, 2008
On Tuesday, January 15, 2008, the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions favorably reported S.6457 which would establish a Task Force on Retiree Health Insurance Protection. The Senate Committee also favorably reported the reintroduced versions of the main health care protection bills, S.6648 & S.6649, as well as a bill, S.6650, which extends the school district prohibition against the diminution of benefits an additional year. These bills, all of which were introduced by Senator Hugh T. Farley are now placed on the Senate Floor Calendar and can be voted upon by the Senate.
RPEA filed a Memorandum in Support of these bills and distributed it to the Senators who are members of the Committee. You can read RPEA’s Memorandum in Support by clicking here.