RPEA Legislative Priorities 2011
I. Protect Retiree Health Insurance Benefits
Health insurance benefits for State and local government retirees should be protected. As health insurance benefits for educational retirees have been protected permanently (Chapter 504 of the Laws of 2009), the same protection should be available to other public service retirees.
S.4515 Martins 4/8 - Referred to Senate Insurance Committee
A.6536 Abbate 4/5 - Reported to Assembly Ways & Means Committee
Prior notice of proposed local government health insurance contracts including financial information prior to local governments’ adopting contracts or changes in plan for public employee retirees’ health insurance should be enacted to enable full knowledge of health insurance costs or changes. (See also A.72-b Paulin/S.3244B, Saland which passed both houses and requires release of documents prior to local government open meeting.)
A.7872 Abinanti 5/19 - Referred to Assembly Governmental Employees Committee
Public service retirees should be informed of the financial impact that would result from proposed changes to their health insurance coverage in collective bargaining agreements.
S.3218-A Golden 4/6 - Amended; recommitted to Senate Investigations & Government Operations Committee
A.4957-A Galef 4/6 - Amended; recommitted to Assembly Governmental Operations Committee
II. Protect the Integrity of the Pension System
Provide for the disqualification and forfeiture of pension benefits when certain public officers who are members of a public pension system commit “designated felony offenses.” Establish a new crime of Abuse of the Public Trust for persons who intentionally use their public positions either to commit a felony offense or to solicit others to commit such an offense. [State Comptroller bill] (See also S.5679, Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011, which passed the Legislature on 6/13/11 and which contains forteiture provisions.)
S.3185-A Golden 4/6 - Amended; recommitted to Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee
A.5049-A Abbate 4/6 – Amended; recommitted to Assembly Governmental Employees Committee
Give the State Comptroller access to the Tax Department’s Wage Reporting System to audit earning limits for retired public employees under 65 years of age who do not have Civil Service Law, §211 waivers to earn unlimited income while receiving pension benefits. (State Comptroller bill)
S.5460-A Griffo 7/20 – Signed into Law (Chapter 206)
Keep the State Comptroller as the Sole Fiduciary of the New York State Pension System. No legislative bills have been introduced, but RPEA opposes any attempt to place the NYS Common Retirement Funds under a politically appointed board. (No bill introduced)
III. Provide for Representation of Public Retirees
As recommended by the Governor’s Task Force on Retiree Health Insurance Benefits, give public employee retirees an institutional voice within State government to look after retirees’ unique needs. (No bill introduced)
IV. Support Income Security for Public Retirees
Increase the maximum post-retirement government earnings limit for retirees under 65 years of age by $2,500 to a maximum of $32,500 annually. The limit has not been raised since 2006.
A.7427 Sweeney 5/4-Referred to Assembly Governmental Employees Committee
RPEA Legislative Bulletins-2011
Legislative Action Day
Click Here to see RPEA Members participating in LAD 2011
July 5, 2011 – RPEA responds to the Governor’s Legislative Secretary’s request for comments on S.5558, passed by the Legislature. The bill was introduced by Senator Greg Ball and Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate, Jr. to assure that New York’s pension systems remain as qualified governmental pension plans within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code. This bill would conform the accidental death benefit and health insurance coverage provisions of the State’s public pension systems to the requirements of the Federal Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008.
Click here to read RPEA’s Ten Day Bill Letter on S.5558
June 30, 2011 – RPEA responds to the Governor’s Legislative Secretary’s request for comments on S.5460-A, passed by the Legislature. This bill, introduced at the request of the State Comptroller, would give the Comptroller access to the Wage Reporting System for the purpose of the Comptroller’s audit of public service retirees’ earnings and to enforce the law relating to governmental earnings limits.
Click here to read RPEA’s Ten Day Bill Letter on S.5460-A
June 24, 2011 – Legislature finishes its regular session and adjourns.
June 1, 2011 – The Senate Investigations and Governmental Operations Committee reports S.5480, Griffo to the floor. This bill would grant the State Comptroller access to the Wage Reporting System for the purpose of having sufficient information to audit public retiree earnings limits.
May 24th & 25th – RPEA Members in the form of their Community Lobby Committees converged on New York's Capitol and Legislative Office Building to meet with legislators and speak with one voice about issues that impact government retirees. Most important for us was reminding legislators that public retirees are substantial contributors to the State and local economies and communities.
May 23, 2011 – Senator Joseph Griffo (47th S.D., Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence Cos.) and Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate, Jr. (49th A.D., Bay Ridge, Kings Co.) introduce the State Comptroller’s bill which would allow him to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Taxation and Finance to grant him access to information in the Wage Reporting System for the purpose of having sufficient information to audit public retiree earnings limits (S.5480/A.7911). The bills are referred to the Senate Investigations and Governmental Operations Committee and the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee, respectively.
Click here to read S.5480/A.7911
May 19, 2011 – Assemblyman Thomas J. Abinanti (92nd A.D., Greenburg, Westchester Co.) introduces RPEA’s program bill to require local governments to give public service retirees advanced notice of their adoption of a health insurance contract or change in health insurance plan. The bill would require that public retirees be told where they can obtain the full terms of such contract or plan and financial information relating to the cost of the proposed contract or plan for the retirees as well as for the public. The bill, A.7872, is referred to the Governmental Employees Committee
May 4, 2011 – Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney (11th A.D., Lindenhurst, Suffolk Co.) introduces a bill to increase the annual earnings limit to $32,500 from $30,000 for public employee retirees under 65 years of age who do not have a Civil Service Law, §211 waiver. The limit has not been raised since 2006.
April 8, 2011 – Senator Jack M. Martins (S.D.7, Mineola, Nassau Co.), Chair of the Senate Local Governments Committee, introduces RPEA’s Health Protection Bill which is referred to the Senate Insurance Committee. RPEA publishes Memorandum in Support of S.4515/A.6536.
Click here to read RPEA’s Memorandum in Support
April 5, 2011 – The Assembly Governmental Employees’ Committee reports A.6536 to the Ways & Means Committee by a unanimous vote.
March 30, 2011 – Legislature passes on-time State Budget, the first in about 20 years.
Click here to read Governor Cuomo’s Budget Documents
March 29, 2011 – RPEA publishes Memorandum in Support of a bill (S.3218, Golden/A.4957, Galef) which would require public disclosure of a collective bargaining agreement after union membership has approved the proposed contract, but before its approval by a local governmental body.
Click here to read RPEA’s Memorandum in Support
March 21, 2011 – Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate, Jr. (A.D. 49, Kings Co.), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees, introduces RPEA’s Health Protection Bill - A.6536. Bill is referred to Assemblyman Abbate’s Committee.
March 1, 2011 – Governor Cuomo’s Mandate Relief Redesign Team issues its Preliminary Report and calls for a creation of a new Tier 6 Pension Plan and increased employee and retiree health insurance premium contributions. However, no further details are provided in the Preliminary Report.
February 1, 2011 – Governor Cuomo presents his proposed 2011-12 Executive Budget. He creates a Mandate Relief Redesign Team and a Medicaid Redesign Team to tackle the largest parts of the budget which require a $10 billion deficit reduction. He mentions that local government employees and retirees ought to make the same contribution toward their health insurance benefits as do State workers.
Click here to read Governor Cuomo’s Budget Documents
January 19, 2011 – RPEA Board President, Stanley Winter, writes letter to Governor Cuomo outlining RPEA’s position on State and local governments’ fiscal austerity and stating RPEA’s position on health insurance cost sharing.
Click here to read Stan Winter’s Letter
January 5, 2011 – Governor Cuomo makes his first State of the State Address to the Legislature and other officials at The Egg in the Empire State Plaza Concourse calling for a “transformation plan” for New York State government and its budget process.
Click here to read Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
January 1, 2011 – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo is sworn in as the 56th Governor of New York and gives an Inaugural Address calling for an “emergency financial reinvention plan.”
Click here to read Governor Cuomo’s Inaugural Address
Click Here to read RPEA Legislative Bulletins-2010
Click Here to read RPEA Legislative Bulletins-2009
RPEA Retired Public Employees Association, 435 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205, (518) 869-2542 or toll-free (800) 726-7732